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Leaf litter quality induces morphological and developmental changes in larval amphibians
Aaron B Stoler1, Rick A Relyea
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA. abs45@pitt.edu
Ecology
|August 20, 2013
Summary
Leaf litter quality significantly alters aquatic tadpole development and morphology, impacting traits like intestine length and tail depth. These findings highlight resource quality
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Amphibian Biology
Background:
- Aquatic consumers display inducible phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental resource variation.
- Leaf litter is a crucial food source in freshwater ecosystems, and its quality influences consumer growth and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether varying leaf litter quality induces phenotypic changes in wood frog tadpoles (Lithobates sylvaticus).
- To quantify the impact of different leaf litter types on tadpole growth, development, and morphology.
Main Methods:
- Wood frog tadpoles were exposed to six distinct species of leaf litter at two densities.
- Key developmental and morphological traits were measured, including growth rate, development rate, intestinal length, oral disc size, and external dimensions.
Main Results:
- Significant alterations in growth and development rates were observed across different leaf litter environments.
- Morphological changes included up to 14% longer intestines, 11% deeper tails, and 6% deeper tail muscles.
- Total nitrogen content in leaf litter strongly correlated with most measured morphological features.
Conclusions:
- Resource quality, not just quantity, can drive substantial phenotypic changes in aquatic consumers.
- These findings have critical implications for amphibian populations in forested wetlands facing shifts in tree composition and litter input.
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