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Geographic variation in life-history characteristics of amphibians: a review
Article first published online: 1 APR 2003
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2003.00696.x
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How to Cite
Morrison, C. and Hero, J.-M. (2003), Geographic variation in life-history characteristics of amphibians: a review. Journal of Animal Ecology, 72: 270–279. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2003.00696.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 1 APR 2003
- Article first published online: 1 APR 2003
- Received 19 April 2002; accepted 5 November 2002
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Keywords:
- age at maturity;
- altitude;
- body size;
- breeding season length;
- fecundity;
- growth and development rates;
- latitude;
- resilience
Summary
- 1This review examines the intraspecific patterns and differences in life-history traits of amphibian populations living at different altitudes and latitudes. Specifically we examined differences in development and growth (physiological constraints) and reproductive ecology (plasticity in reproductive traits).
- 2Research published to date suggests that amphibian populations at higher altitudes and latitudes tend to: (a) have shorter activity periods, and hence shorter breeding seasons; (b) have longer larval periods; (c) are larger at all larval stages including metamorphosis; (d) are larger as adults; (e) reach reproductive maturity at older ages; (f) produce fewer clutches per year; (g) produce larger clutches absolutely and smaller clutches relative to body size; and (h) produce larger eggs.
- 3These generalizations must be viewed with caution, due first to the small number of papers supporting them, and secondly to the inconsistent results published to date.
- 4The implications of the intraspecific geographical variation in life history traits for general amphibian biology, amphibian population declines and conservation are discussed.