Why is the wood frog's early spring emergence timing critical for its feeding success?
Answer
They gain a brief window to feed before many competitors become active.
Wood frogs are among the very first amphibians to become active, often emerging while snow is still melting. This early activity grants them a short but vital feeding window before the majority of other predators and competitors emerge from dormancy. However, this early availability also severely limits their initial food sources to only those invertebrates that can survive or emerge in cool temperatures, such as overwintered arthropods or very early-hatching insects.
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