Plasticity under climate change: investigating the effect of water level reduction on growth, metamorphosis, and survival of Levant green frog (Pelophylax bedriagae) larvae

Understanding the relationship between climate-based habitat conditions and survival is key to maintaining biodiversity in the face of rapid climate change. Water is a limiting habitat variable for amphibians because larvae must metamorphose before wetlands or ponds dry up. Changes in precipitation and temperature patterns globally affect the amount of water available, but the impact of these changes on amphibian growth, development, and survival is poorly understood. In this study, the effect of water level reduction on the growth, metamorphosis, and survival of Levant green frog (Pelophylax bedriagae) larvae in three treatments (control, moderate, and rapid water level reduction) was investigated for 129 days. In each tank, 50 larvae were subjected to the same diet with 4 replications. The results of the experiment showed that reducing the water level increases the growth rate. Treatments with moderate and rapid water reduction showed a decrease in the size of metamorphosis, a decrease in the duration of metamorphosis, and a decrease in survival compared to the control treatment. The statistical results showed that the effect of these treatments on metamorphosis time and metamorphosis size is significant but insignificant on growth rate and survival. This information can provide insight into the plasticity of this species under climate change.