ABSTRACT
Amphibians in common with most other animals experience their highest mortality during early stages of development (Turner, 1962; Wassersug, 1975; Heyer, 1979). Therefore, knowledge of the major fac tors affecting the mortality of amphibian eggs and larvae, also referred to as propagules, is essential for understanding the evolution of lifehistory patterns in amphibians (Wilber and Collins, 1973; Heyer, 1973). In this chapter, those behaviors performed by conspecifics that directly affect the mortality rate of amphibian eggs and larvae are considered. This chapter addresses the following questions: What are the major sources of amphibian propagule mortality? In what ways can parents and other conspecifics affect the mortality rate of propagules? Finally, what is the adaptive significance of the killing of eggs and larvae?
