Parental care

Abstract

Begins with a description and summary of the phylogenetic distribution of parental care. Next, the five major modes of parental care (egg attendance, egg transport, tadpole attendance, tadpole transport, and tadpole feeding) and their presumed functions are discussed. Three correlates of parental care in amphibians are then reviewed: large egg size, small clutch size, and terrestrial modes of reproduction. Fourth, various aspects of the evolution of parental care in amphibians are addressed. What factors influence the existence and type of parental care? What empirical data are available on the benefits and costs of parental care? Why do some species have parental care whereas others do not? Why do only females provide care in some species, only males in others? Why is biparental care so rare in amphibians? Lastly, evidence for flexibility in parental behaviours is reviewed and the extent to which parental care is adjusted to variation in the benefits to offspring and costs to parents is examined. -from Author