Effects of Larval Growth History on Anuran Metamorphosis

Alford, Ross A.; Harris, Reid N.

doi:10.1086/284775

Cited by 289 publications

(273 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The cause of this difference is not entirely clear, although it is possible that there is a threshold size for metamorphosis associated predominantly with length rather than mass, such that all individuals raised under similar environmental conditions reach a similar target length at metamorphosis. Experimental evidence for threshold sizes at metamorphosis in larval amphibians exists (Alford and Harris, 1988;Tejedo and Reques, 1994;Beck, 1997), but generally mass and length are used interchangeably as a measure of overall size so their relative effects cannot be disentangled. Experimental manipulation of growth rates would be required to test explicitly whether there is a threshold size for metamorphosis in A. m. columbianum, but our results suggest that length and mass may interact differently with metamorphic timing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Larval growth terminates in metamorphosis, and larval growth trajectories will influence size at metamorphosis, and in some cases time to metamorphosis (Wilbur and Collins, 1973;Collins, 1979;Alford and Harris, 1988). Both timing and size at metamorphosis are important life history traits in pondbreeding amphibians that can have substantial fitness consequences.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic covariance structure of growth in the salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum

Ragland

Carter

2004

Heredity

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic covariance structure of growth in the salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum

Ragland

Carter

2004

Heredity

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“…The seemingly consistent relationship between larval growth rate and age at metamorphosis (ϭ1/developmental rate) provided the original data for a widely cited trade-off model for amphibian early life histories (Wilbur and Collins 1973). The model and its cousins and subsequent refinements (Alford and Harris 1988;Leips and Travis 1994;O'Laughlin and Harris 2000;Day and Rowe 2002) all suggest extrinsic control on age and size at metamorphosis via an adaptive, plastic physiological response to current environmental conditions. However, some of the more recent experiments have detected stagespecific limitations to plasticity, that is, environmental conditions early in larval development have greater effect on the age and size at metamorphosis than conditions later in larval development.…”

Section: Constraint On Higher Levels Of Biological Organization?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspective: Embedded Molecular Switches, Anticancer Selection, and Effects on Ontogenetic Rates: A Hypothesis of Developmental Constraint on Morphogenesis and Evolution

Kavanagh

2003

Evolution

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Abstract. The switch between the cell cycle and the progress of differentiation in developmental pathways is prevalent throughout the eukaryotes in all major cell lineages. Disruptions to the molecular signals regulating the switch between proliferative and differentiating states are severe, often resulting in cancer formation (uncontrolled proliferation) or major developmental disorders. Uncontrolled proliferation and developmental disorders are potentially lethal defects in the developing animal. Therefore, natural selection would likely favor a tightly controlled regulatory mechanism to help prevent these fundamental defects. Although selection is usually thought of as a consequence of environmental or ecological influences, in this case the selective force to maintain this molecular switch is internal, manifested as a potentially lethal developmental defect. The morphogenetic consequences of this prevalent, deeply embedded, and tightly controlled mechanistic switch are currently unexplored, however experimental and correlative evidence from several sources suggest that there are important consequences on the control of growth rates and developmental rates in organs and in the whole animal. These observations lead one to consider the possibility of a developmental constraint on ontogenetic rates and morphological evolution maintained by natural selection against cancer and other embryonic lethal defects.

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“…These were collected along a 30 m stretch of shoreline with a hand net. In the laboratory, 20 tadpoles were placed in each of 8, three litre containers and reared with a 3:1 mixture of rabbit chow and Tetramin fish flakes (Alford & Harris, 1988). Water in containers was replaced every 4 days with aged tap water.…”

Section: Host and Maintenancementioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental population dynamics of Rhabdias bufonis (Nematoda) in toads (Bufo bufo): density-dependence in the primary infection

Goater

1992

Parasitology

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SUMMARYDensity-dependence in worm establishment, numbers, biomass and larval production were examined in primary infections of 0, 10, 40, 80 and 160 larvae of the lung nematode, Rhabdias bufonis in the common toad, Bufo bufo. The infection procedure established 4 non-overlapping levels of infection which persisted until 6 weeks post-infection (p.i.). after which there was an overall decline up to 12 weeks p.i. Worm numbers had no direct effect on adult worm survival but temporal changes in worm weight were density-dependent. Adult worm establishment in the lungs declined significantly as the numbers of worms in the lungs increased. At the lowest exposure dose, 86 % of the larvae administered reached maturity in the lungs while at the highest, only 37 % did so. Also, the numbers of immature larvae outside the lungs increased as adult worm numbers increased. Both features provide evidence for a threshold limit to the numbers of worms maturing in the lungs. Worm numbers also affected larval output per host and per capita fecundity. A significant positive relationship between per capita fecundity and per capita worm weight suggested that density-dependence acted primarily to constrain the growth of individual worms. Finally, the constraints imposed on worm growth and fecundity were apparently relaxed when worm density decreased, providing evidence for density-dependent flexibility in per capita fecundity. Densitydependence in worm establishment and per capita fecundity are mechanisms which may potentially regulate this hostparasite interaction in the field. Both mechanisms may be functionally related to physical space limitations in the lungs, within which worms must compete for finite nutrients.

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Effects of Larval Growth History on Anuran Metamorphosis

Cited by 289 publications

References 31 publications

Genetic covariance structure of growth in the salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum

Genetic covariance structure of growth in the salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum

Perspective: Embedded Molecular Switches, Anticancer Selection, and Effects on Ontogenetic Rates: A Hypothesis of Developmental Constraint on Morphogenesis and Evolution

Experimental population dynamics of Rhabdias bufonis (Nematoda) in toads (Bufo bufo): density-dependence in the primary infection

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