Effects of Short-Term Acidification on Growth Rates of Tadpoles

Abstract

The effect of a short pulse of acidity on the growth rates of three species of tadpoles was investigated. Tadpoles of Xenopus laevis, Bufo valliceps, and Bufo woodhousei were exposed to pH 4 and pH 7.2-7.6 solutions for three days. At the end of the exposure period, the wet and dry weights of the tadpoles exposed to the low pH solution were about half that of tadpoles exposed to neutral solution. However, seven days after transfer to neutral conditions, the wet weights of the two groups did not differ, and time to metamorphosis was not affected by the short exposure to low pH. No differences in wet weight were observed when the tadpoles were not fed during the exposure period.