Nutrient assimilation in Green Frog tadpoles (Rana clamitans).

Green frogs (Rana clamitans) are a ubiquitous anuran species in Kentucky, and previous investigations have shown their larvae to consume algae as the largest component of their diet. Other studies on conspecifics have documented that detritus, and not algae, is the major dietary food. Our study investigates the assimilation of nutrients based on a strict algal diet in R. clamitans tadpoles. Through a series of feeding experiments using algal foods in a “tadpole jello” presented to the larvae, we were able to measure various nutritional components of the diet. We analyzed energy content with bomb calorimetry, crude protein with Kjelldal’s technique, percent organic matter from ash-free dry weight, and various macrominerals (including: Ca, P, and Mg) with color spectrophotometry. Food passage rate were also measured both at the beginning and end of the study using fluorescent dye markers in the jello. In addition, ammonia levels were monitored throughout the study