These data were collected from metamorphs of the species Leptodactylus fuscus exposed experimentally to the combined effects of temperature variation (30 °C vs. 35 °C), water level (high vs. dry-down), and predator presence (presence vs. absence of predator cues). We evaluated multiple traits of the Leptodactylus fuscus: tadpole survival, developmental time, body mass, morphology, lipid reserves, and locomotor performance at metamorphosis. The database presented here contains the variables measured., Through developmental plasticity, amphibian larvae cope with heterogeneity in ecological factors such as temperature, desiccation risk, and predation risk. However, our understanding of how they respond to fluctuations in complex environments is limited and primarily restricted to temperate species. Leptodactylus fuscus is a tropical anuran that constructs foam nests in excavated subterranean chambers, where embryos develop. Moreover, nest-dwelling larvae can enter developmental arrest until the chambers are flooded and tadpoles are washed off to a neighboring pond. Its breeding ponds are highly dynamic, and to understand how its larvae respond to multiple factors in complex environments, we experimentally exposed them to variations in temperature, water level, and predation risk. We found that tadpoles did not modulate developmental rates in response to any of the factors studied. At high temperatures, larvae achieved greater body mass, larger size, increased fat bodies, and improved locomotor performance., In contrast, reduced water level negatively affected body mass, size, and snout length at metamorphs. The presence of predator cues had the least effect on tadpoles, only showing an antagonistic interaction with temperature on locomotor performance. Of all three ecological factors, temperature had the greatest (and positive) impact on growth, and the effects of each factor were predominantly additive or antagonistic. The reproductive mode of L. fuscus may have relaxed selection for plasticity in developmental rate, allowing its canalization. However, the limited capacity for developmental rate plasticity in response to temperature or desiccation risk could limit the species' ability to respond to future climate change scenarios of increased temperature and reduced hydroperiod., Here, we present data obtained during the experiment on three different aspects of L. fuscus development: life history and lipid reserves (time and mass at metamorphosis and fat bodies), the morphology of metamorphs (we present data on each measure but also principal components derived from these measurements), and the locomotor performance of metamorphs., Facultad de Ciencias from Universidad de Los Andes‐Colombia;
National Program for Women in Science UNESCO - L'ORÉAL-MINCIENCIAS-ICETEX, 2021;
Colombian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (grant # 80740-201-2019 code 120480863597);
Plan Nacional I+D of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant # PID2020-119517GB-I00), Peer reviewed

These data were collected from tadpoles of the species Leptodactylus lithonaetes exposed experimentally to three treatments of water level: High water level, drying water level, and low water level. After 21 days of exposition to the treatments, we took size measurements per each tadpole and performed locomotor performance trials. The database presented here contains the variables measured., Developmental plasticity evolves in heterogeneous environmental conditions as long as individuals can accurately perceive them. A paradigmatic example of developmental plasticity is the ability of amphibian larvae to alter growth and development in response to the risk of pond drying. Such responses are often found in amphibian species breeding in highly dynamic water bodies with high desiccation risk. The inselbergs of the Guianan Shield are rocky outcrops with extremely high and fluctuating temperatures and a marked seasonality in precipitation. During the rainy season, eroded depressions form precipitation-dependent pools with a high and variable risk of desiccation within a timeframe of a few days. The frog Leptodactylus lithonaetes specializes in breeding in this extreme environment, and its tadpoles are thus forced to cope with desiccation risk by trading off changes in their developmental trajectories and physiological performance. We experimentally assessed the effect of different levels of desiccation risk on developmental rate, growth, and temperature-depending locomotor performance in tadpoles of Leptodactylus lithonaetes. We did not find an effect of desiccation risk on developmental rate, but under simulated drying conditions, tadpoles showed larger body size, greater body mass, and enhanced locomotor performance compared to constant (high or low) water levels. These results suggest that drying pools offer cues that trigger developmental and behavioral changes in these tadpoles, enabling them to enhance growth without accelerating development over a short time span. We discuss the potential compensatory mechanisms behind these responses and highlight the need for further investigations in species with semiterrestrial life histories in extreme environments., Universidad de Los Andes, Facultad de Ciencias; Colombian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation : 80740-201-2019; Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation: PID2020-119517GB-I00, Plan Nacional I+D; UNESCO - L'ORÉAL-MINCIENCIAS-ICETEX, National Program for Women in Science, Peer reviewed

Here, we present data obtained during the experiment on three different aspects of L. fuscus development: life history and lipid reserves (time and mass at metamorphosis and fat bodies), the morphology of metamorphs (we present data on each measure but also principal components derived from these measurements), and the locomotor performance of metamorphs., All versions are available at 10.6084/m9.figshare.28811579, Through developmental plasticity, amphibian larvae cope with heterogeneity in ecological factors such as temperature, desiccation risk, and predation risk. However, our understanding of how they respond to fluctuations in complex environments is limited and primarily restricted to temperate species. Leptodactylus fuscus is a tropical anuran that constructs foam nests in excavated subterranean chambers, where embryos develop. Moreover, nest-dwelling larvae can enter developmental arrest until the chambers are flooded and tadpoles are washed off to a neighboring pond. Its breeding ponds are highly dynamic, and to understand how its larvae respond to multiple factors in complex environments, we experimentally exposed them to variations in temperature, water level, and predation risk. We found that tadpoles did not modulate developmental rates in response to any of the factors studied. At high temperatures, larvae achieved greater body mass, larger size, increased fat bodies, and improved locomotor performance., In contrast, reduced water level negatively affected body mass, size, and snout length at metamorphs. The presence of predator cues had the least effect on tadpoles, only showing an antagonistic interaction with temperature on locomotor performance. Of all three ecological factors, temperature had the greatest (and positive) impact on growth, and the effects of each factor were predominantly additive or antagonistic. The reproductive mode of L. fuscus may have relaxed selection for plasticity in developmental rate, allowing its canalization. However, the limited capacity for developmental rate plasticity in response to temperature or desiccation risk could limit the species' ability to respond to future climate change scenarios of increased temperature and reduced hydroperiod., Facultad de Ciencias from Universidad de Los Andes‐Colombia; National Program for Women in Science UNESCO - L'ORÉAL-MINCIENCIAS-ICETEX, 2021; Colombian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (grant # 80740-201-2019 code 120480863597); Plan Nacional I+D of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant # PID2020-119517GB-I00), Peer reviewed

All versions are available at DOI 10.6084/m9.figshare.28811579, Here, we present data obtained during the experiment on three different aspects of L. fuscus development: life history and lipid reserves (time and mass at metamorphosis and fat bodies), the morphology of metamorphs (we present data on each measure but also principal components derived from these measurements), and the locomotor performance of metamorphs., Through developmental plasticity, amphibian larvae cope with heterogeneity in ecological factors such as temperature, desiccation risk, and predation risk. However, our understanding of how they respond to fluctuations in complex environments is limited and primarily restricted to temperate species. Leptodactylus fuscus is a tropical anuran that constructs foam nests in excavated subterranean chambers, where embryos develop. Moreover, nest-dwelling larvae can enter developmental arrest until the chambers are flooded and tadpoles are washed off to a neighboring pond. Its breeding ponds are highly dynamic, and to understand how its larvae respond to multiple factors in complex environments, we experimentally exposed them to variations in temperature, water level, and predation risk. We found that tadpoles did not modulate developmental rates in response to any of the factors studied. At high temperatures, larvae achieved greater body mass, larger size, increased fat bodies, and improved locomotor performance., In contrast, reduced water level negatively affected body mass, size, and snout length at metamorphs. The presence of predator cues had the least effect on tadpoles, only showing an antagonistic interaction with temperature on locomotor performance. Of all three ecological factors, temperature had the greatest (and positive) impact on growth, and the effects of each factor were predominantly additive or antagonistic. The reproductive mode of L. fuscus may have relaxed selection for plasticity in developmental rate, allowing its canalization. However, the limited capacity for developmental rate plasticity in response to temperature or desiccation risk could limit the species' ability to respond to future climate change scenarios of increased temperature and reduced hydroperiod., Facultad de Ciencias from Universidad de Los Andes‐Colombia; National Program for Women in Science UNESCO - L'ORÉAL-MINCIENCIAS-ICETEX, 2021; Colombian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (grant # 80740-201-2019 code 120480863597); Plan Nacional I+D of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant # PID2020-119517GB-I00), Peer reviewed

Adaptive plasticity allows organisms to adjust their phenotypes to environmental heterogeneity. Defensive responses to predation risk exemplify such plasticity, which in the case of amphibian larvae can involve changes in morphology, behaviour, physiology, and life histories. These defences are hypothesised to be mediated by the glucocorticoid hormone corticosterone (CORT), but empirical support across species is inconsistent. We experimentally tested the generality of CORT involvement in predator-induced plasticity across larvae from twelve phylogenetically distant anuran genera, exposing them to either predation cues or to different concentrations of exogenous CORT, and comparing their responses. We measured changes in morphology, activity, and life‐history traits, and quantified endogenous CORT levels. Species showed pronounced interspecific variation in morphological and behavioural plasticity. Perceived predation risk did not consistently elevate endogenous CORT concentrations across species. Moreover, predator‐induced changes in body shape were generally distinct, and even opposite, to those elicited by exogenous CORT, indicating that corticosterone is not a direct regulator of anti‐predator defences in amphibian larvae. Nonetheless, we found evidence for an indirect association between CORT and antipredator responses such that species with higher baseline CORT levels tend to have faster developmental rates, greater CORT response to predation cues, but reduced morphological responses, and vice-versa., Funding was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science (PID2020-119517GB-I00 and PID2024-159390NB-I00) and US National Science Foundation (IOS 2410732), Peer reviewed