The costs of living on the coast: Reduction in body size and size‐specific reproductive output in coastal populations of a widespread amphibian

Abstract

Body size is a critical component of organismal biology. Body size is known to be influenced by a plethora of environmental conditions, among which exposure to large scale variations of salinity has been comparatively overlooked. Yet, exposure to salinity is known to affect energetic allocation toward growth and reproduction. In this study, we investigated the morphological differences between inland and coastal individuals of spined toads (Bufo spinosus) in Western France. We measured adult morphology both outside and during the reproductive season on 190 individuals, and assessed reproduction in pairs originating from inland (N = 20) and coastal (N = 30) environments. Overall, we found that adult coastal toads were smaller and lighter than inland individuals. Reproductive correlates of these differences included lower fecundity and smaller egg size (but higher egg density) in coastal females. Interestingly, these differences were not allometric correlates of body size, as coastal females invested proportionally less in all components of reproduction (fecundity, egg size and egg protection). These results suggest altered resource allocation to growth and reproduction in coastal amphibians, which may be related to the marked spatial gradient of salinity (measured in reproductive ponds) and the associated costs of osmoregulation (higher osmolality in coastal individuals), for which local adaptation and higher tolerance to salinity remains to be tested. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Ecology of Saline Watersheds: An Investigation of the Functional Communities and Drivers of Benthic Fauna in Typical Water Bodies of the Irtysh River Basin

“…For example, some species may develop thicker exoskeletons or external protection mechanisms in high-salinity environments to reduce water evaporation and prevent salt intrusion [45,46]. Concurrently, other species may reduce body size to minimize water loss and enhance adaptability to elevated salinity conditions [14,47,48]. Research indicates that benthic organisms exhibit physiological adaptations in response to high-salinity environments.…”

“…As one of the most critical aquatic environmental factors, salinity is crucial for shaping the nutritional strategies, life history characteristics, and ecological niche distribution of benthic fauna [12,13]. However, with changes in salinity gradients, benthic organisms may adjust their feeding behaviors and ecological roles, impacting ecosystem stability and functionality [14]. For example, as salinity increases, benthic communities exhibit reduced diversity and increased homogenization of functional traits [15][16][17].…”