Aspects of Tolerance to Desiccation in Acris crepitans and Pseudacris streckeri

Ecological and life history data in the literature indicate that Acris crepitans is one of the most aquatic of North American hylids, and that Pseudacris streckeri is one of the most terrestrial. In terms of per cent body water, tolerance to body water loss, size and shape, P. streckeri appears to b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Copeia 1972-09, Vol.1972 (3), p.519-525
Main Authors: Ralin, Dennis B., Rogers, James S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amphibians
Body size
Body water
Body weight
Ecological economics
Ecology
Freshwater
Frogs
Population parameters
Rain
Species
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Summary:Ecological and life history data in the literature indicate that Acris crepitans is one of the most aquatic of North American hylids, and that Pseudacris streckeri is one of the most terrestrial. In terms of per cent body water, tolerance to body water loss, size and shape, P. streckeri appears to be much better adapted for a terrestrial mode of life. It also appears that P. streckeri can tolerate a greater loss of body water than any North American hylid thus far examined. It is hypothesized that the dependence on relatively permanent bodies of water by A. crepitans and the semi-fossorial habitus of P. streckeri make these species relatively unresponsive on a population basis to decreasing rainfall regimes when compared to other hylid frogs. Neither species increases in size or increases in tolerance to body water loss with decreased annual rainfall; both show increased per cent body water with decreased rainfall. Populations of a species of Hyla show increased body size, increased per cent body water and sharply increased tolerance to body water loss through less of a decrease in annual rainfall. It is shown that population differences in parameters of water economy in many cases exceed the differences found between species and even genera in earlier studies. It is suggested that comparative surveys of anuran water economy need to be interpreted with this consideration in mind. Paired correlation analysis of the per cent body water lost at the critical activity point, total per cent body water and body weight reveals no consistent interrelationship between them within each population, indicating that the three parameters are free to vary independently of one another on an interpopulation basis.
ISSN:0045-8511
1938-5110
DOI:10.2307/1442924