Summary
The terrestrial eggs of the Australian frog,Pseudophryne bibroni, increase in diameter during development by absorbing water from the substrate into the perivitelline space. This decreases the thickness of the jelly capsule and increases its effective surface area, both effects joining to increase the O2 conductance of the capsule in parallel with the rate of O2 consumption. PerivitellineP O 2, calculated from capsule morphology and metabolic rate, and confirmed with micro-O2-electrodes, remains high and constant (17–19 kPa) throughout the 39 day incubation period at 12°C. The increase in conductance is essential for adequate oxygenation of late embryos. Eggs incubated on substrates of 0 and −25 kPa matric tension (bracketing field conditions) take up disparate amounts of water but show similar conductance.
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Seymour, R.S., Bradford, D.F. Gas exchange through the jelly capsule of the terrestrial eggs of the frog,Pseudophryne bibroni . J Comp Physiol B 157, 477–481 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691832
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691832