本研究計畫擬以三年時間，利用野外觀察艾氏樹蛙雄的生殖行為，並藉由DNA 分子遺傳標記來探討艾氏樹蛙雄蛙在整個生殖季的過程(求偶、護卵及尋求再次生殖機會)和其他雄蛙、雌蛙及竹筒中受精卵（或蝌蚪）的互動及親緣關係，進而探討艾氏樹蛙雄蛙親代撫育、生殖策略及行為生態學。第一年是探討艾氏樹蛙雄蛙求偶過程中，同時性一雌多雄的交配型式(synchronous polyandry)與子代同母多父現象(multiple paternity); 第二年是探討雄蛙護卵的過程中再次生殖的行為、原因及機制，進而瞭解雄蛙護卵期間的生策策略; 第三年是探討雄蛙在整個生殖季的生殖活動、生殖策略和環境資源及雌蛙關係，藉於瞭解雄蛙如何在有限的生殖時間增加生殖次數及提高生殖成功。本計劃是目前兩棲動物學領域，少數利用分子遺傳標記去探討這類具有複雜的生殖模式的種類(樹洞產卵、雄蛙護卵及母蛙餵食蝌蚪的青蛙)。我們預期利用 DNA 分子遺傳標記技術，結合野外觀察及實驗，將有助於我們深入探討艾氏樹蛙雄蛙生殖行為學，藉此瞭解兩棲動物生殖策略多樣性、交配系統、社會行為及性擇的生態及演化意義，對相關領域的研究會有重要的貢獻。 This proposed experiment will be conducted to study the parental care, reproductive strategies and behavioral ecology of Chirixalus eiffingeri male frogs by field observation on the social interactions between male frogs with conspecifics and genetic analyses of the relationship between male frogs and fertilized eggs and tadpoles. The aim of the first year project is to study the synchronous polyandry and multiple paternity. In the second year, we will study the reproductive strategy of male frogs during the egg-guarding period. In the third year, we will study the breeding activity and reproductive strategy of male frogs in relation to the breeding site resources and mate availability. Our proposed experiments represent one of the few molecular studies on arboreal breeding anurans that exhibit paternal and maternal cares. By combining the field observation and genetic analyses, we will able to study the reproductive behavior of male frogs in great detail. The results of this study will have an important contribution in understanding the evolution of the mating system, parental care, diversity of reproductive strategies, and sexual selection of anuran species.
