Jumping Performance of Frogs <i>(Rana Pipiens)</i> as a Function of Muscle Temperature

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study was performed to determine whether or not the power generated by frog muscles during maximal jumps increases two- to three-fold with a 10 °C increase in temperature as it does in isolated preparations. We found that peak power increased 2·7-fold between 14 and 25 °C, and then remained constant to 30 °C. During jumps at 14 and 25 °C, the extensor muscles of the legs appeared to generate the same power as the maximum power output found in isolated frog muscle preparations, thus suggesting that the total cross section of the extensors is active during maximal jumps. We also found that jump distance was linearly related to peak power generation.