Anuran metamorphosis, the transition from aquatic larvae to terrestrial juveniles, is accompanied by significant morphological, physiological, and behavioral changes. Timing of metamorphosis and final size, which can influence adult fitness, may depend on sufficient energy accumulated during the larval period to support metamorphosis. However, only two species of anurans have been examined for energetic costs of metamorphosis, Rana tigrina and Anaxyrus terrestris. Based on these species, it has been hypothesized that differences in energy expenditure are related to duration of metamorphosis. To compare energetic costs of metamorphosis among species and examine this hypothesis, we quantified the total energy required for metamorphosis of Lithobates palustris tadpoles by measuring oxygen consumption rates over the duration of metamorphic climax using closed-circuit respirometry. Total energy costs for L. palustris were positively related to tadpole mass and duration of metamorphic climax. However, larger tadpoles completed metamorphosis more efficiently because they used proportionally less total energy for metamorphic climax than smaller counterparts. Costs were intermediate to R. tigrina, a larger species with similar metamorphic duration, and A. terrestris, a smaller species with shorter metamorphic climax. The results supported the hypothesis that amphibian species with more slowly developing tadpoles, such as ranids, require more absolute energy for metamorphosis in comparison to more rapidly developing species like bufonids.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.06.001 | DOI Listing |
Aquat Toxicol
January 2025
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Professor Moraes Rego, S/N - Cidade Universitária, Recife 50670-420, Brazil; Aquatic Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Professor Moraes Rego, S/N - Cidade Universitária, Recife 50670-420, Brazil. Electronic address:
Phenanthrene is considered a priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon due to its ubiquitous presence in aquatic and terrestrial environments and its toxic potential. Tadpoles are sensitive ecotoxicological models that provide important information regarding effects of contaminants in amphibian species. The goal of the present study was to generate information regarding the acute and chronic toxicity of phenanthrene to the neotropical tree frog Dendropsophus branneri early life stages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrobes Infect
November 2024
School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia; Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia; School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4067, Australia.
The fungal disease chytridiomycosis (causative agent Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis [Bd]) is a primary contributor to amphibian species declines. The morphological and physiological reorganization that occurs during amphibian metamorphosis likely increases the vulnerability of metamorphs to Bd. To address this, we exposed pro-metamorphic tadpoles of Fleay's barred frog (Mixophyes fleayi) to Bd and sampled skin and liver sections from control and exposed animals throughout metamorphosis (Gosner stages 40, 42 and 45).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToxics
October 2024
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may interact with peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) and alter lipid homeostasis. Using , we investigated the effect of PFAS on (a) lipid homeostasis and whether this correlated to changes in body and hepatic condition; (b) the expression of hepatic genes regulated by PPAR; and (c) the hepatic lipidome. We chronically exposed tadpoles to 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDev Biol
January 2025
Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8551, Japan. Electronic address:
During anuran metamorphosis from herbivorous tadpoles to carnivorous frogs, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract undergoes drastic remodeling, such as the formation of the stomach-intestine boundary and the development of the pyloric sphincter at the posterior end of the stomach. However, the morphogenetic process and molecular mechanisms of how the pyloric sphincter is formed during metamorphosis, instead of during embryogenesis as in amniotes, are largely uninvestigated. Using the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis, we histologically examined the development of the pylorus region from embryonic to froglet stages and performed spatiotemporal gene expression analyses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
September 2024
Laboratório de Pesquisas em Monitoramento Ambiental Marinho e Laboratório de Ecotoxicologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Rua Augusto Corrêa 01, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil.
During their development, amphibians undergo various physiological processes that may affect their susceptibility to environmental pollutants. Naturally occurring fluctuations caused by developmental events are often overlooked in ecotoxicological studies. Our aim is to investigate how biomarkers of oxidative stress are modulated at different stages of larval development in the Amazonian amphibian species, Physalaemus ephippifer.
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