Like a Fish out of Water: Temporary Habitat Switching Detected in Aquatic Tadpoles Resting Above the Water's Surface

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(4)

Published: March 30, 2025

ABSTRACT Amphibian tadpoles are typically aquatic and constrained to freshwater throughout development. These circumstances change at metamorphosis, whereupon individuals may complete a partial or full habitat shift towards terrestriality gain the capacity transition between types. In this study, we present evidence of striped marsh frog tadpoles, Limnodynastes peronii , resting out water on floating vegetation mats in ponds, despite being fully developmental stage far proceeding metamorphosis. We propose that behaviour represent form adaptive beaching obtain survival benefits derived from column. particular, be behavioural tactic switching avoid predators, such as introduced mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki access oxygen air when becomes hypoxic. The for exploit temporary refuges outside challenges traditional assumptions about their strict dependence continuously submerged below surface survival. While our findings preliminary based small sample size, they suggest focal species perhaps others not restricted natal waterbodies previously thought have move into habitats above water's resource gain.

Language: Английский

Consequences of developmental and growth-rate plasticity within and across life stages in wood frogs ( Rana sylvatica )

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(5)

Published: May 1, 2025

Increased trait responsiveness to the environment can provide short-term benefits but may induce delayed costs. Anurans (frogs and toads) an excellent system examine phenotypic plasticity developmental carry-over effects given their ecologically distinct life stages, which have development growth opportunities. Previous research has predominantly assessed phenotype at metamorphosis rather than within across stages. To address this knowledge gap, we reared wood frogs ( Rana sylvatica ) two densities morphology survival multiple larval post-metamorphic timepoints. As expected, high-density rearing depressed early size survivorship metamorphosis. However, compensatory growth-rate enabled tadpoles metamorphose a similar as low-density tadpoles. Regardless of density, duration was negatively correlated with metamorphic mass for earliest developers influenced morphology, found evidence trade-off between later-life survival. Our results reinforce need sample timepoints stages understand interactions environment. More broadly, study contributes understanding trade-offs compensation associated plasticity, will become even more critical accelerating rates global environmental change.

Language: Английский