Interpopulational Differences in the Developmental Rate and Oxygen Consumption in Tadpoles of Moor Frog (Rana arvalis Nilsson, 1842, Anura: Amphibia)

A comparative study of the developmental rate and oxygen consumption in Rana arvalis tadpoles from the population of the Bryansk region (Southern) and Moscow region (Northern) in laboratory conditions at a temperature of 20 degrees C was carried out. The rates of growth and development, the rate of oxygen consumption, and the specific rate of oxygen consumption in individuals from a Northern population were significantly higher. This result corresponds to the previously detected higher growth rate of tadpoles from populations with a relatively short season of activity (Northern) and indicates that these tadpole metabolism features are probably genetically determined.