Assimilation efficiency in Bufo spinulosus tadpoles (Anura: Bufonidae): effects of temperature, diet quality and geographic origin

Temperature-mediated morphology changes during metamorphic climax in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis

“…Therefore, the inverse relationship between temperature and body size is most likely the result of greater efficiency of utilizing resources at lower temperatures in this species. This conclusion is supported by some of the results in our study and in previous studies (D. melanogaster: French et al (1998); Robinson and Partridge (2001); Menidia menidia: Present and Conover (1992); see Benavides et al (2005) for exception). In our study, we did not directly measure the metabolic rate of metamorphosing individuals at different temperatures; however, the greater daily reduction in mass, SVL and head width at higher temperatures can be used as a proxy for the efficiency of utilizing stored resources to create the juvenile phenotype, and suggests a lower efficiency under high temperatures.…”

Divergence in morphometric and life history traits in two thermally contrasting Andean populations of Rhinella spinulosa (Anura: Bufonidae)

“…Interestingly, this variation is not apparent in the physiology of the species. Benavides et al (2005) studied individuals from four populations which included El Tatio and Farellones, and found no differences in the assimilation of rich and poor diets among localities, but found differences due to the temperatures they used (15 1C vs. 25 1C). This suggests the existence of differential variation among traits as a function of geographic locality and temperature.…”

Consequences of dam‐altered thermal regimes for a riverine herbivore's digestive efficiency, growth and vulnerability to predation

“…The nutritional quality of the ingested food also appears to have mediated the effect of temperature on digestive efficiency of the tadpoles. Other freshwater herbivores fed low-quality diets have similarly shown increased assimilation efficiency with increasing temperature, but no change in efficiency when eating high-quality food (Benavides, Veloso, Jim enez, & M endez, 2005;Calow, 1975). Diatoms of the genus Epithemia, which dominate the epiphyte flora in late summer at the Eel River (Furey et al, 2012), are rich in protein and lipids relative to other periphyton (Furey et al, 2014;Kupferberg et al, 1994).…”