Post-metamorphic carry-over effects of larval digestive plasticity

For animals with complex life cycles, conditions in the larval environment can have important effects that persist after metamorphosis. These carry-over effects may influence juvenile growth plasticity and have important fitness consequences. Small juvenile red-eyed treefrogs, Agalychnis callidryas, grow faster than larger ones. We examined to what extent this growth pattern is due to carry-over effects of intraspecific larval competition. In particular, we assessed larval gut plasticity and determined whether carry-over effects could persist given the extensive gut remodelling that occurs when herbivorous larvae transition to carnivorous juveniles. We reared larvae in mesocosms at low, medium and high densities and measured the size of both larval and juvenile guts, livers and fat bodies. We also monitored the timing of the onset of juvenile feeding post-metamorphosis and, after the onset of feeding, we measured intake rate and mean diet retention time. Finally, we measured juvenile ...