Wood frog

The wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) is a North American frog that survives winter by allowing much of its body to freeze while protecting its cells from damage.

Freeze tolerance: The ability of an organism to survive the formation of ice within its body. Wood frogs are a vertebrate example of this broader survival strategy.
Cryobiology: The study of how living systems respond to low temperatures and freezing. Wood frog physiology is a natural case of survival at subzero temperatures.
Lithobates: A genus of frogs in the family Ranidae, containing many North American species. The wood frog is classified within this genus.
Alaska: A U.S. state in northwestern North America, with extensive boreal and Arctic environments. Wood frogs reach farther north in Alaska than any other amphibian.
Climate change: Long-term shifts in climate patterns, including changes in average temperature and seasonal conditions. Changing winter temperatures may alter the timing and reliability of conditions wood frogs can tolerate.
Glucose: A simple sugar that serves as a major energy source and metabolic intermediate. The frog’s liver releases large amounts of glucose as tissues begin to freeze.
Organ preservation: Methods for maintaining organs outside the body before transplantation or research. The frog’s protection against freezing injury informs questions about preserving complex tissues.
Ranidae: A family of true frogs found across much of the world. This is the family to which the wood frog belongs.
Boreal forest: A northern forest biome dominated by cold-adapted coniferous trees. This biome contains much of the wood frog’s northern range.
Phenotypic plasticity: The capacity of one genotype to produce different traits under different environmental conditions. Environmental acclimation may affect how strongly wood frogs tolerate freezing.

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FrogBroader topic: Its freeze tolerance is an unusual adaptation among vertebrates.