Fixari III, J. E., A. W. Mysiw, D. R. Sorenson, G. R. Smith & J. E. Rettig

Crowding effects on growth rate of Lithobates sphenocephalus tadpoles (Amphibia: Anura: Ranidae). pp. 466-468.

Abstract. Tadpole growth has frequently been shown to decline as density increases. Other studies have shown that the relative volume of water available for swimming (i.e., effective volume) can affect growth in tadpoles. Here, we report a test of whether effective volume affected the growth of southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) tadpoles. Tadpoles in the large effective volume treatment grew longer and heavier than those in the other treatments. Tadpole body condition (BM/SVL) did not differ among the three effective volume treatments. Our results indicate that reductions in effective volume decrease the growth of southern leopard frog tadpoles.
Key words. Amphibia, Anura, body condition, density, effective volume, swimming volume