What is the primary sustenance for wood frog tadpoles emerging from gelatinous egg masses?
Answer
Algae growing in temporary ponds
The larval stage of the wood frog, before metamorphosis, is fundamentally herbivorous. Their main energy source is derived from consuming algae that grows within the temporary aquatic environments where they develop. This plant-based nutrition is crucial for gathering the massive amount of energy reserves required to fuel the subsequent rapid and complex physiological transformation into a terrestrial adult. While they may occasionally consume detritus or even decaying animal matter, their primary and essential sustenance during this phase is plant matter, specifically algae.
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