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Amphibians, and in this case the common bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, start life as a purely aquatic creature breathing where gas exchange occurs at the gill.
As the tadpole metamorphoses, lungs develop, and more importantly the electrical system that controls the lungs develop. During metamorphosis the major center of gas exchange moves from the gills to the lungs and the tadpole becomes an air breather.
As it metamorphosis from an aquatic to a terrestrial animal, one network develops (for the lungs), interacts and eventually supersedes an already existing one (for the gills). For these reasons the resipratory system of the common bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, is an elegant model to study neuronal network development and network plasticity.
Here is more information on the project (Research - Project1)
