AGE DISTRIBUTION AND LONGEVITY IN THE RAMSEY CANYON LEOPARD FROG, RANA-SUBAQUAVOCALIS

Phalangeal elements from 80 individuals from two populations of the Ra msey Canyon leopard frog, Rana subaquavocalis, were sectioned, stained and then examined to estimate individual ages and to determine popula tion age structure and growth curves. Large adults from the Ramsey Can yon population exceeded 100 mm in body length and had as many as 10 re sting lines indicating that they were 11 years postmetamorphosis. In c ontrast the majority of the 38 specimens from the Barchas Ranch popula tion were small, under 70 mm in body length, and were five or less yea rs old. Growth curves for both populations were constructed based on b ody size and the number of resting lines in bone sections. Growth rate s for males in the Ramsey Canyon population are lower than females. Th e population age structure revealed in this study has implications to conservation efforts. Our findings suggest that the Ramsey Canyon popu lation was composed largely of reproductive and very old reproductive individuals whereas at the time of analysis the Barchas Ranch populati on was larger and contained mostly prereproductive individuals.