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Phenotypic plasticity of anuran larvae: environmental variables influence body shape and oral morphology in Rana temporaria tadpoles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 June 2002

Miguel Vences
Affiliation:
Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Laboratoire des Reptiles et Amphibiens, 25 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
Marta Puente
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Anatomía Animal, Facultade de Ciencias Biolóxicas, Universidade de Vigo, Apdo. 874, 36200 Vigo, Spain
Sandra Nieto
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Anatomía Animal, Facultade de Ciencias Biolóxicas, Universidade de Vigo, Apdo. 874, 36200 Vigo, Spain
David R. Vieites
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Anatomía Animal, Facultade de Ciencias Biolóxicas, Universidade de Vigo, Apdo. 874, 36200 Vigo, Spain
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Abstract

Environmental variables shaped the morphology of tadpoles of the common frog, Rana temporaria, in various ways at the Pyrenean locality Circo de Piedrafita. Examining only specimens in similar developmental stages, those from small ponds (with higher temperature and higher tadpole density) had lower growth rates, lower relative tail height, lower relative body width and fewer labial keratodonts and keratodont rows. The variation in keratodonts may have been caused by heterochrony related to the slower growth rate. The number of lingual papillae also differed between ponds but was not related to pond size. Higher predator densities caused a higher percentage of damaged tails and a lower relative tail length in specimens with apparently intact tails, probably as a result of incomplete regeneration after mutilations earlier in development.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2002 The Zoological Society of London

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