Tests for age and size effects on male mating success in a plethodontid salamander

Abstract

The skeletochronological method was used to obtain estimates of age for male Desmognathus ochrophaeus (Urodela: Plethodontidae). Age estimates were compared with body size and with a measure of mating success obtained from an earlier study. Body size is significantly correlated with age, but there is much variation in age among animals having the same body size. Mating success was not significantly correlated either with size or age when males had equal access to potentially receptive females. -Authors