"Kin recognition' among spadefoot toad tadpoles: a side-effect of habitat selection?

Abstract

Scaphiopus multiplicatus preferentially associated with unfamiliar siblings over unfamiliar nonsiblings, but same age tadpoles also were more likely to orient toward unfamiliar nonsiblings reared on the same food (familiar food) than toward unfamiliar siblings reared on unfamiliar food. Tadpoles may thus orient toward cues learned early in ontogeny, regardless of the cues' source. Tadpoles that preferentially associated with cues learned from their environment at birth would tend to be philopatric. Censuses of 14 natural ponds revealed that tadpole density remained greatest near oviposition sites until 4 days before metamorphosis. Tadpole philopatry may be advantageous: tadpoles restricted to their natal site had greater growth and survivorship than did their siblings restricted to randomly selected sites elsewhere within the same pond. Thus kin affiliative tendency may be a by-product of habitat selection. -from Author