Question

Describe/contrast how these wetland wildlife species tolerate (e.g.,behavioral and/or physiological adaptations) long periods of low water supply: A. Australian Burrowing Frogs (Cyclorana alboguttata). B. Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). For each, note the kinds of wetlands they inhabit and why prolonged low water levels are typical.

Answer 1

A. Some species of these burrowing frog leaves the water at metamorphosis and never enters water again throughout its life.It can be found feeding on surface of ground during rain showers beginning in late summer. During autumn, males construct special burrows from which the eggs are deposited in a frothy mass.Thus burrows are later flooded by heavy winter rains and larve escape into swamp where they complete their development.

Other adaptations of cocoon forming burrowing frogs is an effective barrier to evaporative water loss; the continuous addition of skin layers to the cocoon causes an exponential reduction in water loss. While the cocoon reduces water loss, it also presumably impedes water uptake from soil, so cocooned frogs would be more reliant than non cocooned frogs on stored body water.The water balance of burrowing frogs that do not form a cocoon is more linked to the hygric properties of the surrounding soil than for cocoon-forming species. The water potential of this soil affects the frog'scapacity both to absorb water and to reduce transcutaneous loss of body water. Majorly found in claypans and dune swales.  

B. Their specialized skin results in a comparatively rapid loss of fluid if exposed in the daytime, so they spend most
of the day submerged in water and emerge to feed at night. This semiaquatic existence is reflected in the positioning of the eyes, ears, and nostrils high up on the head. The wetlands in which it would be found are swamps.