Data from: Consequences of life history switch point plasticity for juvenile morphology and locomotion in the Túngara frog

Many animals with complex life cycles can cope with environmental
uncertainty by altering the timing of life history switch points through
plasticity. Pond hydroperiod has important consequences for the fitness of
aquatic organisms and many taxa alter the timing of life history switch
points in response to habitat desiccation. For example, larval amphibians
can metamorphose early to escape drying ponds. Such plasticity may induce
variation in size and morphology of juveniles which can result in
carry-over effects on jumping performance. To investigate the carry-over
effects of metamorphic plasticity to pond drying, we studied the Túngara
frog, Physalaemus pustulosus, a tropical anuran that breeds in highly
ephemeral habitats. We conducted an outdoor field mesocosm experiment in
which we manipulated water depth and desiccation and measured time and
size at metamorphosis, tibiofibula length and jumping performance. We also
conducted a complimentary laboratory experiment in which we manipulated
resources, water depth and desiccation. In the field experiment,
metamorphs from dry-down treatments emerged earlier, but at a similar size
to metamorphs from constant depth treatments. In the laboratory
experiment, metamorphs from the low depth and dry-down treatments emerged
earlier and smaller. In both experiments, frogs from dry-down treatments
had relatively shorter legs, which negatively impacted their absolute
jumping performance. In contrast, reductions in resources delayed and
reduced size at metamorphosis, but had no negative effect on jumping
performance. To place these results in a broader context, we review past
studies on carry-over effects of the larval environment on jumping
performance. Reductions in mass and limb length generally resulted in
lower jumping performance across juvenile anurans tested to date.
Understanding the consequences of plasticity on size, morphology and
performance can elucidate the linkages between life stages.