Energy accumulation and amphibian metamorphosis

✍ Scribed by Martha L. Crump

• Book ID: 104734134
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1981
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 334 KB
• Volume: 49
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0029-8549
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00349184

✦ Synopsis

Timing of metamorphosis and size at metamorphosis were examined for Hyla crucifer under two densities in the laboratory. Results agree with previously known relationships for ranids and bufonids: at higher densities developmental time is longer, mean size at metamorphosis is smaller, and both parameters have greater variance than at lower densities. Density also affects energy accumulation: under ad libitum feeding conditions, an average individual raised at a higher density is able to accumulate less energy before metamorphosis than an average individual raised at a lower density. The suggestion is made that, in addition to growth and differentiation rates, energy accumulation may be important in determining when amphibian metamorphosis occurs.