Effects of individual variation in age and size at metamorphosis on growth and survivorship of southern toad (Bufo terrestris) metamorphs

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 944-951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher W Beck ◽  
Justin D Congdon
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Bufo Terrestris ◽  
Size At Metamorphosis ◽  
Total Growth ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Toad Bufo ◽  
Positive Effect

We conducted two experiments with the southern toad (Bufo terrestris) to examine whether individual variation in (i) metamorph body size and metabolic rate and (ii) age and size at metamorphosis were related to differences in survivorship or growth rate of postmetamorphic individuals. Results from the first experiment indicated that neither initial body size nor metabolic rate was related to survivorship or growth. Results from the second experiment showed that (i) size at metamorphosis was positively correlated with survivorship to first census (after 2 weeks), (ii) age and size at metamorphosis had no significant effect on survivorship from first to second census (after 2 months), (iii) size at metamorphosis had a marginally significant positive effect on survivorship from metamorphosis to second census, and (iv) age and size at metamorphosis were not significantly correlated with total growth. Our results suggest that in the southern toad, size at metamorphosis may lead to early differences in survival, size, and growth that later disappear. Furthermore, early differences in growth and survival attributable to size at metamorphosis are not due to size-related differences in metabolic rate. Therefore, although age and size at metamorphosis affect metabolic rate, they may not be related to fitness via effects on postmetamorphic survival and growth.

Relationship of larval density and heterozygosity to growth and survival of juvenile marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum)

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 1122-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne C. Chazal ◽  
John D. Krenz ◽  
David E. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Ambystoma Opacum ◽  
Size At Metamorphosis ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Marbled Salamander ◽  
Relationship Of

Intraspecific competition and enzyme variability have been observed to influence the bioenergetics of many organisms. In amphibians, larval growth affects body size at metamorphosis, which in turn can lead to differences in adult survival and fecundity. We manipulated larval density in a population of the marbled salamander, Ambystoma opacum, and measured body size and enzyme variability in surviving newly metamorphosed juveniles. Crowded larval conditions resulted in lower survival and smaller body sizes at metamorphosis. Multilocus heterozygosity showed no relation to body size at high larval densities; however, at low larval densities relatively homozygous animals were larger. There was a significant interaction between heterozygosity and larval density in their effects on larval traits. Competition had a greater effect on body size at metamorphosis than did heterozygosity. Survival may be enhanced by heterozygosity but in a manner unrelated to body size.

scholarly journals Survival and growth of white poplar rooted cuttings regarding term of planting

Topola ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 33-46
Author(s):  
Branislav Kovačević ◽  
Dušan Igić ◽  
Zoran Novčić ◽  
Saša Orlović
Keyword(s):  
Populus Alba ◽  
White Poplar ◽  
Rooted Cuttings ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Nursery Production ◽  
Sources Of Variation ◽  
Standard Term ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Rooting Capacity

White poplar nursery production is mainly based on vegetative propagation hardwood cuttings. In this study the reaction of three clones of white poplar (Populus alba L.) on term of cuttings' preparation and planting according to parameters of survival and growth of rooted cuttings in three nurseries in Northern part of Serbia. There were two terms of cuttings' preparation and planting examined: a) mid-March and d) the beginning of April (standard term). Obtained results suggest considerable differences between nurseries and between examined terms. Differences between clones were not significant, but there were found significant effects of interactions of factor Clone with other two main sources of variation. The best results were obtained by cuttings that were prepared and planted in mid-March, due to faster growth and survival of rooted cuttings. The positive effect of the earlier term is evident particularly in clones L-12 and L-80 and enable feasible production of rooted cuttings of these clones, especially in nurseries that obtained better conditions. Results obtained in this study suggest that influence of terms of cuttings' production and planting is important issue concerning introduction of clones with relatively poor rooting capacity, optimization of nursery technology of experimental white poplar clones, and improvement of white poplar nursery production in general.

Individual variation affects departure rate from the natal pond in an ephemeral pond-breeding anuran

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 260-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan D. Chelgren ◽  
Daniel K. Rosenberg ◽  
Selina S. Heppell ◽  
Alix I. Gitelman
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Environmental Variability ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Intrinsic State ◽  
Time To Event ◽  
Rana Aurora ◽  
Size At Metamorphosis ◽  
Event Model ◽  
And Behavior

Frogs exhibit extreme plasticity and individual variation in growth and behavior during metamorphosis, driven by interactions of intrinsic state factors and extrinsic environmental factors. In northern red-legged frogs ( Rana aurora Baird and Girard, 1852), we studied the timing of departure from the natal pond as it relates to date and size of individuals at metamorphosis in the context of environmental uncertainty. To affect body size at metamorphosis, we manipulated food availability during the larval stage for a sample (317) of 1045 uniquely marked individuals and released them at their natal ponds as newly metamorphosed frogs. We recaptured 34% of marked frogs in pitfall traps as they departed and related the timing of their initial terrestrial movements to individual properties using a time-to-event model. Median age at first capture was 4 and 9 days postmetamorphosis at two sites. The rate of departure was positively related to body size and to date of metamorphosis. Departure rate was strongly negatively related to time elapsed since rainfall, and this effect was diminished for smaller and later metamorphosing frogs. Individual variation in metamorphic traits thus affects individuals’ responses to environmental variability, supporting a behavioral link with variation in survival associated with these same metamorphic traits.

scholarly journals Intraspecific Variation in Maximum Ingested Food Size and Body Mass in Varecia rubra and Propithecus coquereli

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Hartstone-Rose ◽  
Jonathan M. G. Perry
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Scaling Relationship ◽  
Varecia Rubra ◽  
Food Size ◽  
The Relationship

In a recent study, we quantified the scaling of ingested food size (Vb )—the maximum size at which an animal consistently ingests food whole—and found that Vb scaled isometrically between species of captive strepsirrhines. The current study examines the relationship between Vb and body size within species with a focus on the frugivorous Varecia rubra and the folivorous Propithecus coquereli. We found no overlap in Vb between the species (all V. rubra ingested larger pieces of food relative to those eaten by P. coquereli), and least-squares regression of Vb and three different measures of body mass showed no scaling relationship within each species. We believe that this lack of relationship results from the relatively narrow intraspecific body size variation and seemingly patternless individual variation in Vb within species and take this study as further evidence that general scaling questions are best examined interspecifically rather than intraspecifically.

scholarly journals Changes in body temperature influence the scaling of and aerobic scope in mammals

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F Gillooly ◽  
Andrew P Allen
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Size Dependence ◽  
Maximal Activity ◽  
Scaling Exponent ◽  
Temperature Influence ◽  
Aerobic Scope ◽  
Metabolic Scope ◽  
Single Power ◽  
Maximum Metabolic Rate

Debate on the mechanism(s) responsible for the scaling of metabolic rate with body size in mammals has focused on why the maximum metabolic rate ( ) appears to scale more steeply with body size than the basal metabolic rate (BMR). Consequently, metabolic scope, defined as /BMR, systematically increases with body size. These observations have led some to suggest that and BMR are controlled by fundamentally different processes, and to discount the generality of models that predict a single power-law scaling exponent for the size dependence of the metabolic rate. We present a model that predicts a steeper size dependence for than BMR based on the observation that changes in muscle temperature from rest to maximal activity are greater in larger mammals. Empirical data support the model's prediction. This model thus provides a potential theoretical and mechanistic link between BMR and .

Respiratory Exchange and Body Size in the Aldabra Giant Tortoise

1971 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 651-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. HUGHES ◽  
R. GAYMER ◽  
MARGARET MOORE ◽  
A. J. WOAKES
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Relative Proportion ◽  
The Body ◽  
O2 Consumption ◽  
Weight Range ◽  
Testudo Hermanni ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Good Agreement

1. The O2 consumption and CO2 release of nine giant tortoises Testudo gigantea (weight range 118 g-35·5 kg) were measured at a temperature of about 25·5°C. Four European tortoises Testudo hermanni (weight range 640 g-2·16 kg) were also used. The mean RQ values obtained were 1·01 for T. gigantea and 0·97 for T. hermanni. These values were not influenced by activity or size. 2. The data was analysed by plotting log/log regression lines relating body weight to O2 consumption. Both maximum and minimum metabolic rates recorded for each individual T. gigantea showed a negative correlation with body weight. For active rates the relation was O2 consumption = 140·8W0·97, whereas for inactive animals O2 consumption = 45·47W0·82. 3. The maximum rates were obtained from animals that were observed to be active in the respirometer and the minimum rates from animals that remained quiet throughout. The scope for activity increased with body size, being 82 ml/kg/h for animals of 100 g and 103 ml/kg/h for 100 kg animals. The corresponding ratio between maximum and minimum rates increases from about 2 to 6 for the same weight range. 4. Values for metabolic rate in T. hermanni seem to be rather lower than in T. gigantea. Analysis of the relative proportion of the shell and other organs indicates that the shell forms about 31% of the body weight in adult T. hermanni but only about 18% in T. gigantea of similar size. The shell is not appreciably heavier in adult T. gigantea (about 20%). 5. Data obtained for inactive animals is in good agreement with results of other workers using lizards and snakes. Previous evidence suggesting that chelonians show no reduction in metabolic rate with increasing size is not considered to conflict with data obtained in the present work.

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