Larval habitat and reproductive trajectory in the Dendrobatidae / by Christian Hollis McKeon.

Author/creator McKeon, Christian Hollis author.
Other author Summers, Kyle, degree supervisor.
Other author East Carolina University. Department of Biology.
Format Theses and dissertations
Production2004.
Descriptionv, 82 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm
Supplemental ContentAccess via ScholarShip
Subjects

Summary The presence of a relatively contiguous range of reproductive modes within the Dendrobatidae allows for experimental testing of the ecological factors that drive reproductive strategy in the lineage. Changes in body size, size and number of offspring, reproductive mode and larval habitat were examined within a phylogenetic framework to examine the relationship between phytotelmata use and other life history traits. The larval placement strategy of Allobates femoralis was tested in Southeastern Peru using a blocked, fully crossed experimental design. Further experiments investigated the community diversity of Allobates breeding sites and the colonization of insect predators. Results suggest that predation by aquatic insects influences larval placement in Allobates. Similar ecological interactions may have driven toxic dendrobatids to the use of arboreal phytotelmata and associated derived reproductive strategies.
General notePresented to the faculty of the Department of Biology.
General noteAdvisor: Kyle G. Summers
Dissertation noteM.S. East Carolina University 2004
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 58-66).
Genre/formAcademic theses.
Genre/formAcademic theses.
Genre/formThèses et écrits académiques.