Habitat ephemerality affects the evolution of contrasting growth strategies and cannibalism in anuran larvae.

ABSTRACT: Ephemeral streams are challenging environments for tadpoles; thus, adaptive features that increase the survival of these larvae should be favored by natural selection. In this study, we compared the adaptive growth strategies of Bombina orientalis (the oriental fire-bellied toad) tadpoles from ephemeral streams with those of such tadpoles from non-ephemeral streams. Using a common garden experiment, we tested the interactive effects of location (ephemeral vs. non-ephemeral), food availability, and growing density on larval period, weight at metamorphosis, and cannibalism. We found that tadpoles from ephemeral streams underwent a shorter larval period compared with those from non-ephemeral streams but that this difference was contingent on food availability. The observed faste

SUBMITTER: Oh D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8445080 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature