Editing Common frog (section)

=== Mating interactions ===
About three years after birth, the common frog will return to its original birthplace and emit a [[mating call]]. Males will be the first to arrive at the pond and wait for females to enter. During this period of pre-female competition, the pond becomes significantly male-dominated, and there is a substantial degree of [[Male intrasexual competition|intrasexual competition]] taking place.<ref name="Ryser-1989" /> The shallower portion of the pond, which is more conducive to egg-laying, is more predominantly occupied by the larger males. However, once the females arrive, this territoriality quickly dissipates and male-female [[Amplexus|amplexed]] pairs are free to move anywhere in the pond. Additionally, once an amplexus is established, it is rare for single males to attempt to displace or "take over" the paired male.<ref name="Ryser-1989" />

It is also important to note the effect of size on the mating strategies of a male common frog. Smaller frogs are crowded out of the shallow areas of the pond during the pre-spawning period, a problem which they circumvent by searching for females on the land or in areas of the pond where they first arrive.<ref name="Elmberg-1986" /> Meanwhile, the larger frogs occupy the spawning site, where they encounter more amplexed pairs and therefore rely on their ability to displace amplexed males to secure a mate.<ref name="Elmberg-1986" /> However, the frequency of these takeovers is not consistent.