Body temperature in arboreal and nonarboreal anuran amphibians: Differential effects of a small change in water vapor density

1. 1.|Body temperatures (T_b) and contaneous evaporative water loss rates (CWL) were measured in tree frogs (Hyla cinerea) and toads (Bufo valliceps) exposed to cyclical ramp changes in water vapor density (WVD) between 7.5 and 9.8 gm^?3 (1 cycle h^?1 at an air temperature of 27.0°C.

2. 2.|CWL was 3.3 times greater in toads than in tree frogs.

3. 3.|T_b in toads cycled directly with WVd; WVD accounted for 98% of the variation in toad T_b.

4. 4.|T_b in tree frogs was independent of WVD, probably due to changes in skin resistance to water loss.

Author Keywords: Body temperature; evaporative water loss; skin resistance; water vapor density; relative humidity; Anura; Hyla cinerea; Bufo valliceps