Final answer:
Leopard frogs resort to anaerobic respiration to make ATP in conditions where oxygen is scarce. This process is a rapid source of energy during high demand situations like intense activity and an evolutionary adaptation for survival in an oxygen-limited environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leopard frogs must make ATP anaerobically when they do not have sufficient oxygen available to produce ATP through aerobic cellular respiration. This situation often occurs during rapid or intense activities when their muscles have a high demand for energy, faster than oxygen can be delivered. In such cases, leopard frogs and other animals resort to a faster process known as anaerobic respiration or fermentation to produce energy, resulting in less ATP per glucose molecule compared to aerobic respiration but allowing them to continue to function under oxygen-limited conditions.
Anaerobic respiration is not just a quick fix for oxygen-limited situations but is also an evolutionary adaptation. Due to the universal presence of glycolysis, which does not require oxygen, it is considered the most primitive and fundamental pathway for making ATP, suggesting a common ancient ancestor for all life. This pathway allows leopard frogs, as well as many other organisms, to survive and perform necessary cellular functions when oxygen is scarce, just as primitive organisms had to when the Earth's atmosphere lacked oxygen.
Moreover, an advantage of anaerobic ATP production is its speed. This allows leopard frogs to have quick bursts of energy which is essential for activities such as escaping predators or catching prey, highlighting the importance of this metabolic pathway from both an evolutionary and functional perspective.