Geographic variation in adult and embryonic desiccation tolerance in a terrestrial-breeding frog

Intra-specific variation in the ability of individuals to tolerate environmental perturbations is often neglected when considering the impacts of climate change. Yet this information is potentially crucial for mitigating deleterious effects of climate change on threatened species. Here we assessed patterns of intra-specific variation in desiccation tolerance in the frog Pseudophryne guentheri, a terrestrial-breeding species experiencing a drying climate. Adult frogs were collected from six populations across a rainfall gradient and their dehydration and rehydration rates were assessed. We also compared desiccation tolerance of embryos and hatchlings originating from within-population parental crosses from four of the populations. Embryos were reared on soil at three soil-water potentials and their desiccation tolerance was assessed across a range of traits. We found significant and strong patterns of intra-specific variation in almost all traits, both in adults and first-generation offs...