Age and fecundity in Salamandra algira (Caudata: Salamandridae)
- Amphibians are characterised by potentially indefinite growth. Their body size reflects a trade-off between growth and reproduction. Consequently, growth decreases or even ceases after maturation. Furthermore, the sexes often mature at different ages (sexual bimaturity). We examined fecundity patterns of the terrestrial salamander Salamandra algira (Salamandridae) and tested if age, body size and the fecundity of both sexes are connected and how these reproductive traits interact. We revealed positive correlations for female size, age and fecundity traits, i.e., egg number and volume. The male number of testes lobes was also positively correlated with age. Our study provides basic data on a rarely studied terrestrial salamandrid. Further collection-based research is needed to obtain additional data aiding the understanding of life history evolution of the Salamandridae.
Author details: | Sandy Reinhard, Sandra Renner, Alexander Kupfer |
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ISSN: | 0036-3375 |
Title of parent work (English): | Salamandra : German journal of herpetology |
Publisher: | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde |
Place of publishing: | Darmstadt |
Publication type: | Article |
Language: | English |
Year of first publication: | 2015 |
Publication year: | 2015 |
Release date: | 2017/03/27 |
Tag: | Fecundity; Salamandra; Urodela; salamanders; skeletochronology |
Volume: | 51 |
Issue: | 1 |
Number of pages: | 6 |
First page: | 19 |
Last Page: | 24 |
Funding institution: | Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena Graduate Academy; German Herpetological Society (DGHT) |
Organizational units: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Biochemie und Biologie |
Peer review: | Referiert |