Testing trade‐offs in amphibian metamorphic traits: Swimming performance and selection across metamorphic stages in the aquatic frog Xenopus laevis

• Published in: Functional ecology Vol. 37; no. 9; pp. 2447 - 2458
• Main Authors: Kinsey, Chase T., McNelly, Olivia, Bridges, William C., Blob, Richard W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Amphibians; Body length; Developmental stages; Frogs; Larvae; Life history; Limbs; Locomotor activity; Metamorphosis; Morphology; Ontogeny; Predators; Survival; Swimming; Tails; Taxa; Xenopus laevis

Abstract As frogs undergo metamorphosis from tadpole to adult, they may be susceptible to decreases in locomotor performance and survival during stages in which the tail and limbs are both present. Because these alternative axial and appendicular propulsive systems might interfere with each other, p...