Allometric scaling relationships of jumping performance in the striped marsh frog Limnodynastes peronii

We constructed a force platform to investigate the scaling relationships of the detailed dynamics of jumping performance in striped marsh frogs (Limno dynastes peronii). Data were used to test between two alternative models th at describe the scaling of anuran jumping performance; Hill's model, which predicts mass-independence of jump distance, and Marsh's model, which predi cts that jump distance increases as M-0.2, where M is body mass. From the f orce platform, scaling relationships were calculated for maximum jumping fo rce (F-max), acceleration, take-off velocity (U-max), mass- specific jumpin g power (P-max), total jumping distance (D-J) and total contact time for 75 L. peronii weighing between 2.9 and 38.4 g. F-max was positively correlate d with body mass and was described by the equation F-max=0.16M(0.61), while P-max decreased significantly with body mass and was described by the equa tion P-max=347M(-0.46). Both D-J and U-max were mass- independent over the post-metamorph size range, and thus more closely resembled Hill's model for the scaling of locomotion. We also examined the scaling relationships of j umping performance in metamorph L. peronii by recording the maximum jump di stance of 39 animals weighing between 0.19 and 0.58 g. In contrast to the p ost-metamorphic L. peronii, D-J and U-max were highly dependent on body mas s in metamorphs and were described by the equations D-J=38M(0.53) and U-max =1.82M(0.23), respectively. Neither model for the scaling of anuran jumping performance resembled data from metamorph L. peronii. Although the hindlim bs of post-metamorphic L. peronii scaled geometrically (body mass exponent approximately 0.33), the hindlimbs of metamorphs showed greater proportiona l increases with body mass (mass exponents of 0.41-0.42).