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pairing hypothesis
pairing hypothesis The pairing hypothesis is the idea that, in some temperate early-spring-breeding amphibians, mating pairs form most reliably through a two-stage process: some pairings begin before winter at or near breeding sites, and others occur again after emergence in spring.
The pairing hypothesis is the idea that, in some temperate early-spring-breeding amphibians, mating pairs form most reliably through a two-stage process: some pairings begin before winter at or near breeding sites, and others occur again after emergence in spring. In the source, this is presented as the “surefire pairing hypothesis,” linking autumn female-first arrival, group hibernation, and spring male-first arrival to more secure pair formation.