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Leaf litter input to ponds can dramatically alter amphibian morphological phenotypes.

Julia E Earl1

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech University, Box 3179, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA. jearl@latech.edu.

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|January 2, 2021
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Summary

Frog leg length plasticity, influenced by leaf litter, impacts mobility and survival. Environmental changes can alter leg length, affecting fitness in changing habitats.

Keywords:
AnuransDeciduous leavesGrassLeg lengthSpatial subsidy

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Amphibian Biology

Background:

  • Phenotypic plasticity is well-studied in growth and development, but less so in morphology.
  • Morphological plasticity, specifically in leg length, is crucial for anuran mobility, influencing predator avoidance, prey capture, and seasonal movements.
  • Relative hind leg length differences greater than 5% in anurans significantly impact jumping abilities, driven by resource availability and predation pressures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the variability of relative leg length in anuran metamorphs.
  • To determine the influence of environmental factors, including leaf litter, on relative leg length.
  • To assess the implications of altered leg length for anuran fitness in response to environmental changes.

Main Methods:

  • Measured relative leg length (leg length/snout-to-vent length × 100%) in four anuran species: Hyla versicolor, Lithobates sylvaticus, L. sphenocephalus, and Anaxyrus americanus.
  • Conducted aquatic mesocosm studies to examine the effects of plant litter type and quality on metamorph development.
  • Analyzed the influence of environmental variables such as water quality, predation, resource levels, and temperature on relative leg length.

Main Results:

  • Relative leg length exhibited significant variability, ranging from 44% to 120% of SVL across species, with highest within-species variation in L. sylvaticus.
  • Leaf litter input was identified as a significant predictor of relative leg length in ranid frogs (L. sylvaticus and L. sphenocephalus).
  • Ranid frogs reared in mesocosms with grass litter had longer legs than those with no litter; deciduous leaves resulted in intermediate leg lengths.

Conclusions:

  • Leaf litter composition directly influences anuran metamorph relative leg length, suggesting a mechanism for morphological plasticity.
  • Habitat alterations due to land use, invasive species, and climate change may impact anuran mobility and fitness through changes in leg length.
  • Understanding leg length plasticity is critical for predicting anuran population dynamics and conservation needs in response to environmental shifts.