Amphibians in Field Radioecology: A Review and Perspective

Orizaola, Germán

doi:10.1007/978-94-024-2101-9_12

Cited by 1 publication

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“…Furthermore, they often show low vagility and are highly philopatric to their natal ponds (Cayuela et al, 2020), which facilitates the estimation of their potential exposure to radiation and makes them ideal subjects for evaluating the effects of radioactive contamination on wild vertebrates. However, work on amphibians in radio‐contaminated environments is still scarce (Orizaola, 2022). Recent studies have reported, for example, that radiation exposure was linked to an increase in mutation rates and mitochondrial DNA damage in frogs from radio‐contaminated areas (Car et al, 2022; Gombeau et al, 2020), but a lack of effects of radiation exposure on physiological biomarkers in Chornobyl tree frogs (Burraco, Bonzom, et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, work on amphibians in radio-contaminated environments is still scarce (Orizaola, 2022). Recent studies have reported, for example, that radiation exposure was linked to an increase in mutation rates and mitochondrial DNA damage in frogs from radiocontaminated areas (Car et al, 2022;Gombeau et al, 2020), but a lack of effects of radiation exposure on physiological biomarkers in Chornobyl tree frogs .…”

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confidence: 99%

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Ionizing radiation and melanism in Chornobyl tree frogs

Burraco

Orizaola

2022

Evolutionary Applications

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Human actions are altering ecosystems worldwide. Among human‐released pollutants, ionizing radiation arises as a rare but potentially devastating threat to natural systems. The Chornobyl accident (1986) represents the largest release of radioactive material to the environment. Our aim was to examine how exposure to radiation from the Chornobyl accident influences dorsal skin coloration of Eastern tree frog (Hyla orientalis) males sampled across a wide gradient of radioactive contamination in northern Ukraine. We assessed the relationship between skin frog coloration (which can act as a protective mechanism against ionizing radiation), radiation conditions and oxidative stress levels. Skin coloration was darker in localities closest to areas with high radiation levels at the time of the accident, whereas current radiation levels seemed not to influence skin coloration in Chornobyl tree frogs. Tree frogs living within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone had a remarkably darker dorsal skin coloration than frogs from outside the Zone. The maintenance of dark skin coloration was not linked to physiological costs in terms of frog body condition or oxidative status, and we did not detect short‐term changes in frog coloration. Dark coloration is known to protect against different sources of radiation by neutralizing free radicals and reducing DNA damage, and, particularly melanin pigmentation has been proposed as a buffering mechanism against ionizing radiation. Our results suggest that exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation, likely at the time of the accident, may have been selected for darker coloration in Chornobyl tree frogs. Further studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanisms and evolutionary consequences of the patterns found here.

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