Daily variations in the effects of disturbance on growth, fattening, and metamorphosis in the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpole.

Bullfrog tadpoles subjected to the daily disturbance of water replacement demonstrated differences in the rates of growth and metamorphosis and in fatbody weights which depended on the time of day when water replacement occurred. Early daily disturbances stimulated larval growth whereas midday disturbances stimulated metamorphosis. The time when the daily disturbances caused fattening changed during metamorphosis so that younger tadpoles fattened when disturbed early in the photoperiod and older tadpoles fattened when disturbed at midday.