Reduced body condition and enzymatic alterations in frogs inhabiting intensive crop production areas

Brodeur, Jean‐Marc; Suárez, Romina P.; Natale, Guillermo Sebastián; Ronco, Alicia Estela; Zaccagnini, María Elena

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2011.04.024

Cited by 73 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Abnormalities have also been reported in amphibian species from Asia (Gurushankara et al 2007) and South America. Some of the reports from the Neotropical region correspond to isolated individuals (Fabrezi 1999, Attademo et al 2004, and few studies have quantified the frequency and types of abnormalities in relation to agricultural landscapes (Brodeur et al 2011).Northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, supports a variety of agroecosystems, including intensive crops (vegetables), extensive crops (soybean, corn, and wheat), and cattle breeding farms (Hurtado et al 2006). Temporary and semi-temporary ponds formed in low-lying areas within the agroecosystems are important habitats for amphibians and other wildlife that may be affected by the activities carried out in the adjacent fields (Jergentz et al 2005, Agostini et al 2009).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Abnormalities in amphibian populations inhabiting agroecosystems in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Agostini¹,

Kacoliris²,

Demetrio³

et al. 2013

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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The occurrence of abnormalities in amphibians has been reported in many populations, and its increase could be related to environmental pollution and habitat degradation. We evaluated the type and prevalence of abnormalities in 5 amphibian populations from agroecosystems with different degrees of agricultural disturbance (cultivated and reference areas). We detected 9 types of abnormalities, of which the most frequent were those occurring in limbs. The observed prevalence of abnormality in assessed populations from cultivated and reference areas was as follows: Rhinella fernandezae (37.1 and 10.2%, respectively), Leptodactylus latrans adults (28.1 and 9.2%) and juveniles (32.9 and 15.3%), and Hypsiboas pulchellus (11.6 and 2.8%). Scinax granulatus populations did not show abnormalities. Pseudis minuta, which was only detected in the reference area, exhibited a prevalence of 13.3%. For R. fernandezae, L. latrans, and H. pulchellus, generalized linear mixed models showed that prevalence of abnormalities was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in cultivated than in reference areas. L. latrans juveniles were more vulnerable to abnormalities than adults (p < 0.05). The presence of abnormalities in some species inhabiting different agroecosystems suggests that environmental stress factors might be responsible for their occurrence. While we detected pesticides (endosulfan, cypermethrin, and chlorpyrifos) and lower dissolved oxygen levels in ponds of the cultivated area, no data are currently available on how other factors, such as injuries from predators and parasite infections, vary by land use. Further research will be necessary to evaluate possible causes of abnormalities detected in the present study mainly in the context of factor interactions.KEY WORDS: Agricultural disturbance · Pesticide · Brachydactyly · Ectrodactyly · Scoliosis · Developmental abnormality · Teratogen Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherDis Aquat Org 104: [163][164][165][166][167][168][169][170][171] 2013 studied . Experimental and field evidence supports a causal association between the trematode Ribeiroia and limb malformations (Johnson et al. 2003, Johnson & Hartson 2009. Predators, such as leeches, fish, and odonate naiads, can cause the loss of an appendage and/or abnormalities during the regeneration process . Laboratory studies indicate that UV-B radiation and chemical contaminants, including pesticides used in agricultural practices, can cause malformations (Greulich & Pflugmacher 2003, Brunelli et al. 2009, Agostini et al. 2010), but to date field studies have not provided conclusive evidence (Lannoo 2008. Some of these factors are considered the cause of amphibian population decline and extinction reported on a global scale, although the relationship between amphibian malformations and population declines remains unclear (Blaustein et al. 2011). Some authors have discussed the necessity to assess and categorize different types of abnormalities and their prevalence considering life s...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Abnormalities in amphibian populations inhabiting agroecosystems in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Agostini¹,

Kacoliris²,

Demetrio³

et al. 2013

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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“…Soybeans crops replaced lands for livestock, expanding the agricultural frontier to areas previously not been reported in areas of accelerated replacement; these changes are mainly associated with pesticide pollution of wetlands and aquifers, and habitat loss (Herrera et al 2013). Studies conducted in croplands of this region have documented that members of amphibian populations have debilitated bodies, enzymatic alterations (Brodeur et al 2011), and high prevalences of abnormalities (Agostini et al 2013). Additionally, application of common pesticides cause lethal and sublethal effects on tadpoles (Agostini et al 2009, Agostini 2013.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infection patterns of the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, on anuran assemblages in agro-ecosystems from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Agostini

Burrowes

2015

Phyllomedusa

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Infection patterns of the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, on anuran assemblages in agro-ecosystems from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is linked to extinctions and declines of amphibians. Additionally, in the context of amphibian decline, the habitat loss related to agricultural landscapes is likely the single most important human activity affecting lowland amphibian populations. To assess the impact of anthropogenic land use on anuran response to Bd, infection patterns in several ponds from cultivated (CA) and uncultivated areas (UCA) were studied. Four anuran species (Rhinella fernandezae [Bufonidae]; juvenile and adult of Leptodactylus latrans [Leptodactylidae]; and the hylids Hypsiboas pulchellus and Pseudis minuta) were monitored and tissue samples were collected for Bd species tested positive for Bd, but anurans inhabiting the UCA were twice more likely to in the UCA, suggesting that vulnerability to Bd is associated with land use in agroecosystems. At the assemblage-level, the infection patterns also differed among species, and those with aquatic habitats (L. latrans and P. minuta) had high prevalence and infection levels of Bd. Juvenile stages of L. latrans had higher prevalence and infection level than adults in both study areas. This work contributes to our understanding of anthropogenic effects on host-pathogen relationships, particularly on the effect of Bd on anuran assemblages under different levels of agricultural impact. Keywords

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“…On the other hand, agricultural practices may affect the environment by reducing habitat quality or food availability. These changes can limit the resource uptake of amphibians, reducing their body mass, which is reflected in a decrease of body condition (Brodeur et al 2011, Zaya et al 2011a,b, Wagner et al 2014. So it is expected that the average body condition of adult amphibians will worsen in stressful environments, such as croplands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taylor et al 2005, Agostini et al 2013 or reduce growth during metamorphosis, affecting health in adulthood (e.g. Brodeur et al 2011, Hegde & Krishnamurthy 2014, Wagner et al 2014.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amphibian malformations and body condition across an agricultural landscape of northwest Argentina

Guerra¹,

Aráoz²

2016

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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Agricultural landscapes support large amphibian populations because they provide habitat for many species, although agriculture affects amphibians through various mechanisms. Pollution with agrochemicals is the major threat to amphibian populations after habitat loss, as chemicals alter the ecophysiology of amphibians, putting their health and survival at risk. We aimed to assess the effect of different environments, sites, width of forest buffers and sampling years on the health of amphibians, which was estimated through the prevalence of malformations and body condition. During 3 yr of pitfall trapping, we captured 4491 amphibians. The prevalence of malformations was higher in the croplands than in the forests, while the body condition was better within forests. The prevalence of malformations was higher in the narrower forest site than in the wider forest site. The prevalence of malformations and the body condition were higher in the third year. The prevalence of malformations differed by species. We found 11 types of malformation, which mainly affected limbs and were unilateral or bilaterally asymmetrical. Our results showed that the prevalence of malformations and body condition reflect different aspects of the health of amphibians and that forest individuals are healthier than those from croplands. The results also highlight the importance of spatial configuration besides the conservation of natural habitats to preserve healthy amphibians in agricultural landscapes. The types of malformation that we found suggest that agrochemicals could be an important cause of malformations. KEY WORDS: Anurans · Abnormalities · Agrochemicals · Amphibian disease · Spatial configurationResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

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Reduced body condition and enzymatic alterations in frogs inhabiting intensive crop production areas

Cited by 73 publications

References 37 publications

Abnormalities in amphibian populations inhabiting agroecosystems in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Abnormalities in amphibian populations inhabiting agroecosystems in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Infection patterns of the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, on anuran assemblages in agro-ecosystems from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Amphibian malformations and body condition across an agricultural landscape of northwest Argentina

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