Nitrogen Excretion by Scaphiopus Tadpoles in Ephemeral Ponds

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Abstract
Scaphiopus couchi and S. multiplicatus larvae develop in ephemeral ponds, which may dry before the larvae complete development. Measurement of nitrogen excretion rates throughout larval development shows that urea becomes the predominant nitrogen waste before metamorphosis in both species. Scaphiopus multiplicatus becomes ureotelic at an earlier development stage than S. couchi, but due to the slower development of S. multiplicatus (21-30 days to metamorphosis, 10 days for S. couchi), both species may start to excrete predominantly urea at the same time when developing in the same pond. Larvae of S. multiplicatus accumulated urea in the body fluids when noncutaneous water uptake was restricted, and survived for 48 h out of water in the field. Ureotelism apparently enables Scaphiopus larvae to survive for short periods out of water, allowing either metamorphosis or additional time for refilling of the pond by the erratic summer rains.

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