Paternal Effects on Juvenile Growth in Scaphiopus multiplicatus (The New Mexico Spadefoot Toad)

Abstract

Scaphiopus multiplicatus spadefoot toads were raised individually as tadpoles, paired with maternal half-sibs of the same weight at the beginnig of the juvenile stage, and raised for an additional 30 days as juveniles. The juveniles in each pair had the same mother, but one was fathered by a larger male and one by a smaller male. Maternal half-sibs sired by larger S. multiplicatus males gained more weight during the 30 days immediately following metamorphosis than maternal half-sibs sired by smaller males. These results establish that larger males possess genes that enhance juvenile growth, suggesting that there may be a genetic advantage for a female to mate with larger males.