Developmental environment has lasting effects on amphibian post-metamorphic behavior and thermal physiology

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Environmental challenges during early development can lead to lasting physiological and behavioral changes in amphibians.
• Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of stressors such as pond drying and elevated water temperatures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of simulated pond drying and elevated water temperatures on the development, growth, thermal physiology, and behavior of Rana sphenocephala.
• To understand the long-term consequences of these early-life environmental stressors on amphibian phenotypes.

Main Methods:

• Tadpoles of Rana sphenocephala were reared in outdoor mesocosms under simulated warming and drying conditions based on 2070 climate projections.
• Post-metamorphosis, jumping performance, thermal physiology (critical thermal minima and maxima), and behavior (exploratory tendencies and thermal preference) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Both drying and warming accelerated development and reduced survival, with drying leading to smaller metamorphs.
• Frogs with shorter larval periods exhibited lower critical thermal limits.
• Development under warming and drying resulted in less exploratory behavior and altered thermal preferences, with drying leading to higher selected temperatures.

Conclusions:

• Early-life exposure to climate change-related stressors significantly shapes amphibian phenotypes, influencing thermal physiology and behavior.
• These developmental alterations can mediate later-life risks associated with disease and predation.
• The study highlights the complex, long-term impacts of environmental conditions during development on amphibian populations facing climate change.