Physiological Correlates of Forced Activity and Burrowing in the Spadefoot Toad, Scaphiopus hammondii

Abstract

Rates of oxygen consumption of Scaphiopus hammondii were measured during rest, forced activity, and recovery from activity. Similar measurements were taken from Bufo cognatus, Rana pipiens, and R. catesbeiana for comparison. Aerobic metabolic scope for activity strictly increased with temperature in all species tested. Maximum absolute scopes of B. cognatus (1.36 cc 02/g-hr) and S. hammondii (1.22 cc 02/g'hr) were comparable only to those of the most active ectothermal vertebrates in the literature and were