Testing trade-offs in amphibian metamorphic traits: Swimming performance and selection across metamorphic stages in the aquatic frog Xenopus laevis

As frogs undergo metamorphosis from tadpole to adult, they may be susceptible to decreases in locomotor performance and survival during stages in which the tail and limbs are both present. Because these alternative axial and appendicular propulsive systems might interfere with each other, performance might be better when only one or the other system predominates. This framework, termed the 'adaptive peak hypothesis' emerged from studies of generalist anuran taxa with biphasic life histories in which aquatic larvae transition to terrestrial adults. However, it is not clear that such patterns apply to taxa with different patterns of ontogenetic environmental transitions.We evaluated the relationship between morphology, locomotor performance and survival versus predators across metamorphic stages of a fully aquatic frog, the pipid Xenopus laevis. We measured escape performance from individuals of four developmental stages spanning possession of just a tail, the presence of both tail and legs and resorption of the tail, and then conducted selection trials in which equal numbers of individuals of all stages were exposed to an aquatic predator (cichlid fish). After collecting survivors from these trials, we calculated linear and nonlinear selection gradients for a suite of morphological traits.Unlike generalist frogs, we found that both locomotor performance and survival increased across metamorphic stages of X. laevis. Linear selection gradients favoured tadpoles with longer hindlimbs, longer and narrower bodies, and shorter tails-patterns that generally parallel trends during metamorphic growth. Nonlinear selection showed that longer hindlimbs were favoured as body length increased and the positive effect of forelimb length was reduced as tail length increased.The relationship between hindlimb and body length aligns with expected changes in growth postmetamorphosis where postmetamorphic individuals are expected to have greater survival. However, longer forelimbs are generally associated with decreased locomotor performance, suggesting that alternative mechanisms of selection may be acting on the forelimbs of Xenopus through development.Overall, our results indicate that the generality of the adaptive peak framework, as applied to amphibian metamorphosis, can be impacted by specifics of life history patterns across species.

Automated summary

As frogs undergo metamorphosis, their locomotor performance and survival may be affected. The presence of both tail and limbs might interfere with each other, resulting in better performance when only one system predominates. However, it is unclear if this pattern applies to frogs with different patterns of ontogenetic environmental transitions.