Reproductive ecology of the green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) in Northwestern Florida

Abstract/Summary

Information on life-history traits is critical to understanding population dynamics of anurans. The objective of this study was to examine aspects of the reproductive ecology of Hyla cinerea in northwestern Florida. Four breeding localities in Leon County, Florida, were sampled over three seasons (2001–2003), amplexed pairs were found as early as 12 April and as late as 12 August. Egg clutches were counted from 51 amplexed pairs and adult size was measured in 43 pairs. Average clutch size was 1214 ± 528 eggs ( ± se, range = 359–2658). Female H. cinerea were slightly larger than males ( ± se tibiofibula length = 24.9 ± 2.2 and 24 ± 1.7 mm, respectively). Female size was significantly positively correlated with clutch size and weakly correlated with size of the paired male. Comparison of the results of this study with previous research indicates that the reproductive ecology of H. cinerea varies across its geographic range.

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