Acid Tolerance in Connecticut Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica)

Pierce, Benjamin A.; Hoskins, John B.; Epstein, Elizabeth E.

doi:10.2307/1563744

Cited by 56 publications

(32 citation statements)

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“…For C. xerampelina and P. edulis none of the embryos that were exposed to pH 4 and lower hatched, while for A. maculatus no embryos hatched at pH3.5. Numerous studies indicate that many amphibian embryos will stop cleaving at an early stage and development ceases when pH is below 4 (Pough and Wilson 1977;Pierce et al, 1984;Leuven et al, 1986). This could be one of the reasons for the embryos, exposed to the different pH solutions during this study, which did not develop fully.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…The toxic effects of acidity to amphibians vary depending on the developmental stage of the animal (Pierce, 1987). Amphibian larvae are generally more tolerant of acidity than embryos, and their acid tolerance increases as the larvae grow and develop (Pierce et al, 1984;Freda and Dunson, 1985). Adult frogs are the least sensitive to changes in acidity (Pierce, 1985).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the pH concentrations ranging from pH 4-5, the embryos will often develop completely, but some of the surrounding egg capsules will become opaque and eggs will appear shrunken. Under these conditions the 'curling defect' occurs (Gosner and Black, 1957;Pough 1976;Dunson and Connell, 1982;Pierce et al, 1984), where the embryo is curled tightly within the inner space of the capsules, and is unable to hatch successfully. This 'curling defect' can however be corrected by simply removing embryos from the egg capsules (Dunson and Connell, 1982).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Acute and chronic effects of acidic pH on four subtropical frog species

Farquharson¹,

Wepener²,

Smit³

2016

WSA

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Acidic precipitation is implicated as a possible cause of global amphibian decline. Even protected areas such as Kruger National Park receive acid rain which may lead to possible negative effects on the park's natural amphibian populations. We conducted acute (LC 50 ) and chronic acid tolerance bioassays on embryos and tadpoles of four frog species found in the park, i.e., Chiromantis xerampelina (Southern Foam Nest Frog), Pyxicephalus edulis (African Bullfrog), Amietophrynus maculatus (Flat-backed Toad) and Hildebrandtia ornata (Ornate Frog), using survival, deformities and growth as endpoints. Chronic exposure pH-values were selected based on the results of the acute assays. Trimmed Spearman-Karber LC 50 s were 4.07, 4.55, 3.75 and 3.747 for C. xerampelina, P. edulis, A. maculatus and H. ornata, respectively, and were all below the pHs in the natural ponds of the KNP. For chronic exposures tadpole size decreased and tadpole deformities increased with decreasing pH. Metamorphosis of tadpoles was also delayed by increasing acidity. In conclusion, the current buffering capacity of water bodies, which serve as habitat for amphibians, negates the effects of decreasing pH from acid precipitation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Acute and chronic effects of acidic pH on four subtropical frog species

Farquharson¹,

Wepener²,

Smit³

2016

WSA

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“…Although determining the sources of acidity in many of these cases is difficult, Pough (1976) and Cook (1983) observed drops in pH of amphibian habitats following precipitation, and Harte and Hoffman (1989) reported that pH declined in salamander-inhabited ponds following snowmelt; these observations suggest that acid precipitation does acidify amphibian breeding habitats. On the other hand, Pierce et al (1984) and Freda and Dunson (1985a) found no relationship between the amount of acidity in precipitation and weekly changes in pond pH. Thus, the extent of acidification of amphibian habitats from acid deposition is difficult to ascertain.…”

Section: Variation In Acidity Of Amphibian Habitatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Early embryological stages are most sensitive to acidity (Pierce et al, 1984;Freda, 1986), and many species breed in early spring, when aquatic habitats are lowest in pH and alkalinity (Pierce et al, 1984;Freda and Dunson, 1985a; …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of acid precipitation on amphibians

Pierce

1993

Ecotoxicology

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: A large number of studies conclusively demonstrate that low pH conditions have important ecological effects on amphibian communities. These effects vary developmentally and depend on complex interactions with other physical, chemical, and biological parameters. Acid sensitivity varies widely within and among species of amphibians. In spite of the importance of acidity to their reproductive success and the presence of many acidic amphibian habitats, there is, at present, little direct evidence that acid precipitation has produced widespread declines in amphibian populations. However, the potential role of sublethal effects of acidity on amphibian declines has not been studied thoroughly.

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Effects of sublethal concentrations of atrazine and nitrate on metamorphosis of the African clawed frog

Sullivan

Spence

2003

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Tadpoles of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) were exposed to sublethal concentrations of atrazine (0, 40, and 320 microg/L) and nitrate (0, 37, and 292 mg/L) from feeding stage to metamorphosis. A 3 x 3 factorial design was used to identify both single and interactive effects. At metamorphosis, tadpole weight, snout-vent length (SVL), and hematocrit were determined. Mean mortality was greater in tanks receiving 320 microg/L atrazine; nitrate had no effect on mortality. Significant differences for all mean traits at metamorphosis occurred among atrazine treatments; higher atrazine exposure increased time to metamorphosis and decreased weight, SVL, and hematocrit. Nitrate treatments were not significantly different. Significant interaction tests between atrazine and nitrate occurred for weight and SVL at metamorphosis; the specific type of interaction varied among treatments. Assuming an additive mixture model, at low atrazine (40 microg/L), the addition of 37 mg/L nitrate produced SVL values less than expected (a synergistic effect) while the addition of 292 mg/L nitrate yielded SVL values greater than expected (an antagonistic effect). A similar response was noted for tadpoles in the 320-microg/L atrazine treatments. These results indicate that environmentally realistic concentrations of atrazine exert a negative impact on amphibian metamorphosis. Also, this study suggests that mixtures of agricultural chemicals, even if sublethal, may exert negative and not necessarily consistent mixture effects.

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Acid Tolerance in Connecticut Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica)

Cited by 56 publications

References 0 publications

Acute and chronic effects of acidic pH on four subtropical frog species

Acute and chronic effects of acidic pH on four subtropical frog species

The effects of acid precipitation on amphibians

Effects of sublethal concentrations of atrazine and nitrate on metamorphosis of the African clawed frog

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