Meeting Abstract
Xenopus laevis is a globally invasive amphibian that has been suggested to negatively impact local populations of amphibians and other aquatic vertebrates. As such the modeling of its future distribution is of critical importance. However, classic species distribution models that do not incorporate information on the physiology of the species of interest often largely overestimate potential ranges. As such data on locomotor physiology and its dependence on temperature is essential. In addition, in other invasive anurans it has been noted that animals on the range edge are better performers than those in the center of the distribution, information essential to incorporate in distribution models. Here we provide data on the thermal dependence of two types of locomotor performance traits: jumping performance and terrestrial locomotor endurance in X. laevis. Moreover, we provide data on the critical thermal maxima and minima for individuals of this population. Finally we compare endurance capacity and basal metabolic rate for animals from the center and the periphery of the range. Our results show that different locomotor traits have different thermal optima with optima for burst performance traits being higher than those for endurance capacity. Moreover, we find differences in endurance capacity and limb morphology for animals from the center versus the periphery of the range. These data shed new light on the evolution of locomotor performance in a globally invasive largely aquatic anuran.
