Interactive effects of food availability and temperature on wood frog (Rana sylvatica) tadpoles

Temperature and food availability can affect the growth and survivorship ofectothermic vertebrates. We examined how the interaction of temperature and food availability influenced the growth and survival of wood frog (Rana sylvatica) tadpoles. Tadpoles experiencing 17 °C survived better than tadpoles experiencing 25 °C. The difference in survivorship between temperature treatments tended to be highest at the lowest food level. Tadpoles in the high food treatment were significantly heavier than tadpoles in other treatments. Tadpoles in the 25 °C treatment were larger than tadpoles in the 17 °C treatment. Tadpoles were substantially heavier in the high food, warm temperature treatment combination than in other treatments. Our results suggest the effects of temperature change on amphibian populations could be mediated by food availability.