Amphibian Research at the University of Connecticut
Leptodactylus insularum
This large frog is unusually social, with tadpoles forming dense schools of 4,000-5000 individuals and adult females attending and defending these schools. The function of this attendance is not fully understood, and females may be leading their offspring to different microhabitats with temperatures suitable for optimal development.
Current research has shown that minor temperature fluctuations can have a profound impact on amphibian behavior, activity, and development rates. For example, in frogs and toads, increased temperatures speed up egg and larval development rates, which can minimize the amount of time spent in these vulnerable stages. However, in warm climates, available microhabitats can quickly reach lethal temperatures.
Data collected from the micro-T loggers is being used to generate a thermal map of a temporary pond, in an attempt to understand the temperature ranges that the adults and tadpoles prefer.
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