In organisms with complex life cycles, such as amphibians, morphological variation is strongly influenced by environmental factors （e.g. temperature） and maternal effects （e.g. diet）. Although temperature and food...In organisms with complex life cycles, such as amphibians, morphological variation is strongly influenced by environmental factors （e.g. temperature） and maternal effects （e.g. diet）. Although temperature and food level exert a strong influence on larval growth, little is known about the interacting effects of these factors on age and size at metamorphosis. In this study, plasticity in growth rates, survival, larval period, and size at metamorphosis were examined in Rice field Frog （Rana limnocharis） under different combinations of rearing temperature and food level. Rearing temperature did not affect age at metamorphosis, but a significant interaction between temperature and food level revealed that of tadpoles feeding at a high food level, those reared at 32℃ had a shorter length of larval period than those reared at 29℃ or 26℃. Similarly, our results also showed high food level produced a larger growth rate and mass at metamorphosis at 32℃, but not at 29 and 26℃. Therefore, our results revealed that the effects of food level on larval growth and metamorphosis were highly dependent on developmental temperature.展开更多
基金funded by Program for Innovative Research Team (in Science and Technology) in universities of Henan Province (Grant No.17IRTSTHN019)Henan Scientific and Technological Project (Grant No.162102310124)
文摘In organisms with complex life cycles, such as amphibians, morphological variation is strongly influenced by environmental factors （e.g. temperature） and maternal effects （e.g. diet）. Although temperature and food level exert a strong influence on larval growth, little is known about the interacting effects of these factors on age and size at metamorphosis. In this study, plasticity in growth rates, survival, larval period, and size at metamorphosis were examined in Rice field Frog （Rana limnocharis） under different combinations of rearing temperature and food level. Rearing temperature did not affect age at metamorphosis, but a significant interaction between temperature and food level revealed that of tadpoles feeding at a high food level, those reared at 32℃ had a shorter length of larval period than those reared at 29℃ or 26℃. Similarly, our results also showed high food level produced a larger growth rate and mass at metamorphosis at 32℃, but not at 29 and 26℃. Therefore, our results revealed that the effects of food level on larval growth and metamorphosis were highly dependent on developmental temperature.
