ECOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY OF AMPHIBIANS

Amphibians are the extant descendants of the first vertebrate class to successfully colonize terrestrial environments; hence they occupy a unique position between fish and reptiles. Amphibian skin provides essentially no resistance to evaporative water loss, and consequently daily water turnover rates are an order of magnitude greater than in other terrestrial vertebrate groups. This has led to a suite of physiological, morphological and behavioural adaptations that have allowed a successful terrestrial existence in spite of this apparently spendthrift water retention strategy. 'Ecological and Environmental Physiology of Amphibians' provides a synthesis of current research on the comparative physiology of amphibians with a particular emphasis on water balance.