Correlated evolution of parental care with dichromatism, colors, and patterns in anurans

Shamanna Seshadri, K and Thaker, M (2022) Correlated evolution of parental care with dichromatism, colors, and patterns in anurans. In: Evolution, 76 (4). pp. 737-748.

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Abstract

Parental care is widespread and has fitness benefits. But caregiving parents incur costs including higher predation, and this may lead to selection for body colors or patterns that help mitigate the risks of caring. The evolution of coloration, including sexual dichromatism, however, can be driven by other factors, such as sexual selection. Therefore, examining the associations between parental care and color patterns may provide key insights into evolutionary patterns and selection pressures for parental care. Our comparative analysis of 988 anuran species reveals that dichromatic species are less likely to provide parental care, irrespective of the caregiving sex, and are more likely to breed in aquatic habitats. We then examined whether dorsal colors and patterns that enhance crypticity or function as aposematic signals are associated with the caregiving sex, and the modality of care (transport or stationary). Only caregiving males are more likely to have dorsal Stripes, but none of the colors (Green-Brown, Red, Yellow, Blue-Black) and other patterns (Plain, Bands, Spots, Mottled-Patches) were associated with caregiving females or the modality of care. Overall, sexual dichromatism, breeding ecology, and parental care are associated, but the evolution of caregiving behavior does not appear to influence the myriad colors and patterns characteristic of anurans globally.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Evolution
Publisher:	Society for the Study of Evolution
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to the Society for the Study of Evolution.
Keywords:	amphibian; coevolution; evolution; evolutionary biology; fitness; frog; parental care; sexual selection, animal; Anura; color; ecosystem; evolution; female; male; pigmentation; sexual characteristics, Animals; Anura; Biological Evolution; Color; Ecosystem; Female; Male; Pigmentation; Sex Characteristics
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences
Date Deposited:	22 Jun 2022 09:55
Last Modified:	22 Jun 2022 09:55
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/73707

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