{"id":{"repo_id":"gsu","oai_identifier":"oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1700"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/gsu/oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1700","repository":{"repo_id":"gsu","name":"Georgia Southern University","base_url":"https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Factors Promoting Variation in Feeding Morphology of Larval Southern Toads (Bufo Terrestris)","abstract":"Larval anurans exhibit morphological plasticity in response to environmental conditions. However, the effect of the environment on morphological traits associated with feeding has been understudied. The purpose of this study was to: 1) determine if diet composition and feeding behavior affect chondrocranial morphology and denticle length of Southern toads (Bufo terrestris) in a laboratory setting, and 2) evaluate the potential for light intensity to affect chondrocranial morphology, denticle length, size, and developmental time of B. terrestris raised in three different shade environments. Linear and geometric morphometrics were used to quantify chondrocranial morphology for a group of specimens representing a range of ontogenetic stages, and for prometamorphic specimens as well. The results of this study indicate that diet (directly) and shade (indirectly) influence chondrocranial shape and denticle length.","abstract_html":"Larval anurans exhibit morphological plasticity in response to environmental conditions. However, the effect of the environment on morphological traits associated with feeding has been understudied. The purpose of this study was to: 1) determine if diet composition and feeding behavior affect chondrocranial morphology and denticle length of Southern toads (Bufo terrestris) in a laboratory setting, and 2) evaluate the potential for light intensity to affect chondrocranial morphology, denticle length, size, and developmental time of B. terrestris raised in three different shade environments. Linear and geometric morphometrics were used to quantify chondrocranial morphology for a group of specimens representing a range of ontogenetic stages, and for prometamorphic specimens as well. The results of this study indicate that diet (directly) and shade (indirectly) influence chondrocranial shape and denticle length.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Schacht, Matthew C."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Biology (M.S.)","degree_level":"Thesis (open access)","degree_discipline":"Department of Biology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Ray Chandler","David Rostal","Risa Cohen"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-05-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2009-05-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:27:26Z","subjects":["ETD","Southern toad","Chondrocranium","Morphology","Plasticity","Bufo","Toads"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/700","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Ray Chandler","David Rostal","Risa Cohen"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Schacht, Matthew C."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2013-10-17T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Department of Biology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis (open access)"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Biology (M.S.)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["ETD","Southern toad","Chondrocranium","Morphology","Plasticity","Bufo","Toads"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/700"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Larval anurans exhibit morphological plasticity in response to environmental conditions. However, the effect of the environment on morphological traits associated with feeding has been understudied. The purpose of this study was to: 1) determine if diet composition and feeding behavior affect chondrocranial morphology and denticle length of Southern toads (Bufo terrestris) in a laboratory setting, and 2) evaluate the potential for light intensity to affect chondrocranial morphology, denticle length, size, and developmental time of B. terrestris raised in three different shade environments. Linear and geometric morphometrics were used to quantify chondrocranial morphology for a group of specimens representing a range of ontogenetic stages, and for prometamorphic specimens as well. The results of this study indicate that diet (directly) and shade (indirectly) influence chondrocranial shape and denticle length."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Factors Promoting Variation in Feeding Morphology of Larval Southern Toads (Bufo Terrestris)"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Ray Chandler","David Rostal","Risa Cohen"],"dc:creator":["Schacht, Matthew C."],"dc:date.available":["2013-10-17T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Larval anurans exhibit morphological plasticity in response to environmental conditions. However, the effect of the environment on morphological traits associated with feeding has been understudied. The purpose of this study was to: 1) determine if diet composition and feeding behavior affect chondrocranial morphology and denticle length of Southern toads (Bufo terrestris) in a laboratory setting, and 2) evaluate the potential for light intensity to affect chondrocranial morphology, denticle length, size, and developmental time of B. terrestris raised in three different shade environments. Linear and geometric morphometrics were used to quantify chondrocranial morphology for a group of specimens representing a range of ontogenetic stages, and for prometamorphic specimens as well. The results of this study indicate that diet (directly) and shade (indirectly) influence chondrocranial shape and denticle length."],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/700"],"dc:subject":["ETD","Southern toad","Chondrocranium","Morphology","Plasticity","Bufo","Toads"],"dc:title":["Factors Promoting Variation in Feeding Morphology of Larval Southern Toads (Bufo Terrestris)"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Department of Biology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis (open access)"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Biology (M.S.)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:27:26Z"}