Identifying Habitat Variables Important to the Rare Columbia Spotted Frog in Utah (U.S.A.): an Information-Theoretic Approach

Abstract:  We identified habitat associations of the rare Columbia spotted frog (  Rana luteiventris ). We used an information-theoretic approach that encouraged careful consideration of previous studies, demanded a priori formulation of hypotheses and models, and provided interpretable results while avoiding some criticisms of traditional statistical analyses. We formulated hypotheses about habitat associations based on conductivity, emergent vegetation, littoral zone depth, pond hydrology, and water temperature. We modeled hypothesized associations with logistic regression and used Akaike's information criterion to quantify evidence for models, weigh the relative importance of each habitat variable, and select predictive models. Although variable, results suggested that spotted frogs are more likely to occur in ponds that do not shrink in size seasonally, maintain relatively constant seasonal water temperature, and have high emergent vegetation cover. Associations we identified will assist actions in Utah that may be critical to local persistence of spotted frogs. Moreover, this approach for identifying associations has great potential for other rare species.     

Heavy metals and pesticides in anuran spawn and tadpoles,water, and sediment

High concentrations of metals (cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc) and of lindane were measured in the sediment and in the spawn and tadpoles of Bufo bufo, Rana dalmatina, and Rana ridibunda from two Austrian locations. Residues in spawn suggest maternal transfer. Increase of the metal concentrations from spawn to advanced tadpole stage is explained by the larval microphaguous feeding habits which cause high exposition of the tadpoles to substances concentrating in sediments and suspended particles. Metal and pesticide concentrations in spawn and tadpoles are toxic to various other aquatic organisms and are furthermore considered to be potentially hazardous to the anurans themselves. The results are conform with world‐wide observations of contamination of anuran larvae with heavy metals, and prove the significance of non‐point source chemical exposure due to allochthonous toxicant input by wind load and precipitation.     

辛基酚对中国林蛙蝌蚪生长发育的毒性效应

为评价辛基酚(OP)对中国林蛙(Rana chensinensis)蝌蚪的急性毒性,将26期蝌蚪暴露在浓度为5.0×10-7～5.0×10-6mol·L-1OP的水体中进行急性毒性实验.结果显示,蝌蚪的死亡率随着OP浓度的升高和暴露时间的延长而增加,24、48、72、96h的半数致死浓度(LC50)分别为3.55×10-6、2.96×10-6、1.90×10-6、1.52×10-6mol·L-1;96h零致死浓度(96hLC0)为9.70×10-7mol·L-1;安全浓度(SC)为1.52×10-7mol·L-1.另外,为探讨SC以下OP对蝌蚪生长发育的影响,将26期蝌蚪连续暴露在1.0×10-7、5.0×10-8、1.0×10-8、1.0×10-9mol·L-1OP的水体中,并设1.0×10-7、1.0×10-8mol·L-1雌二醇(E2)阳性对照及空白对照,直至70%蝌蚪完全变态.在暴露20d、40d和70%蝌蚪完全变态时共3次测量蝌蚪及幼蛙的体长和体重,分别统计70%蝌蚪发育至跗蹠部伸长期、前肢伸出期和完全变态期所需的时间.结果表明,SC以下OP和E2对蝌蚪死亡率的影响不明显,但1.0×10-9～1.0×10-7mol·L-1OP和1.0×10-7、1.0×10-8mol·L-1E2可不同程度地延缓蝌蚪发育时间,降低蝌蚪体长和体重,并导致少数蝌蚪发育畸形.结果说明低浓度OP与E2相似,对蝌蚪生长发育具有抑制作用.     

全氟烷基磺酸盐(PFOS)及其替代品对两栖类胚胎的发育毒性

用非洲爪蟾胚胎致畸实验和黑斑蛙胚胎发育毒性实验,比较研究了PFOS及其4种替代品对两栖动物胚胎的发育毒性。结果发现,用调聚法合成的织物三防整理剂和50%的全氟丁基有机铵盐阳离子表面活性剂同PFOS一样对非洲爪蟾胚胎有明显毒性,且织物三防整理剂和表面活性剂的毒性强于PFOS;电解氟化法合成的C4织物及C6织物三防整理剂(以下简称C4及C6织物三防整理剂)对非洲爪蟾胚胎没有明显毒性。与非洲爪蟾不同,PFOS和4种替代品对黑斑蛙胚胎没有明显毒性。结果显示,从生物安全性的角度分析,C4和C6织物三防整理剂可作为PFOS的替代品使用,而织物三防整理剂和表面活性剂的毒性比PFOS大,作为PFOS替代品使用需要慎重考虑。     

铅暴露对雄性黑斑蛙精子毒性和血清性激素水平的影响

在实验条件下,将健康性成熟雄性黑斑蛙暴露于0.1、0.2、0.4、0.8和1.6 mg·L-1浓度的铅溶液中30d,观察和分析黑斑蛙的精子数量、精子活动度和精子畸形率,采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清中睾酮(T)和雌二醇(E2)的水平,以探讨铅对雄性黑斑蛙的生殖内分泌毒性.结果表明,随铅染毒剂量的升高,精子数量下降,精子畸形率呈剂鼍依赖性增加,精子活动率呈剂鼍依赖性降低;随铅染毒剂量的升高,血清中T水平明显下降,E2水平则明显升高,且均呈剂量-效应关系,结果提示,铅对雄性黑斑蛙有明显的生殖毒性,可改变血清睾酮和雌激素水平,干扰生殖内分泌调节平衡.     

若尔盖湿地3种无尾两栖类不同发育阶段的生态位宽度

研究了若尔盖湿地国家级自然保护区的3种无尾两栖类,高原林蛙(Rana kukunoris)、倭蛙(Nanorana pleskei)和岷山蟾蜍(Bufo minshanicus)的成体和亚成体在7个生境因子(牧场性质、牛粪数量、植被高度、植被盖度、距水塘距离、地表温度、地表湿度)上的生态位宽度.结果表明,岷山蟾蜍成体在牧场性质、牛粪数量、植被盖度、地表温度、地表湿度5个维度上的生态位宽度最窄,其亚成体在牧场性质、牛粪数量、植被高度、距水塘距离、地表湿度5个维度上的生态位宽度最宽;倭蛙亚成体在牧场性质、牛粪数量、地表温度、地表湿度4个维度上的生态位宽度最窄,而其成体在牛粪数量、植被高度、植被盖度、距水塘距离4个维度上的生态位宽度最宽;高原林蛙在微气候因子的两个维度上具有较大的生态位宽度值,而在水塘距离维度上的生态位宽度值则很小.当人类活动导致生境变更时,倭蛙的反应最为敏感;比较3种无尾两栖类在不同生长阶段(成体、亚成体)的生态位宽度,发现它们利用资源的策略不同.表3参16     

阿特拉津对弹琴蛙（Rana adenopleura）蝌蚪微核

分别在d1、d3、d7、d14,观察空白对照(CK-)、水溶助剂0.1mL/L二甲基亚砜对照(CK )、阿特拉津0.01mg/L(ρ1)、0.1mg/L(ρ2)、1mg/L(ρ3)和10mg/L(ρ4)溶液中弹琴蛙(Ranaadenopleura)蝌蚪血红细胞微核和核异常细胞数.结果表明,d14时,ρ1、ρ2、ρ3和ρ4组蝌蚪的微核率分别是CK-的2.25、2.50、4.25、5.11倍(P<0.05),说明阿特拉津可引起蝌蚪血红细胞微核率升高;且与d1、d3、d7相比较,微核率随着时间的延长有升高的趋势.d14时,ρ2、ρ3和ρ4组蝌蚪的总核异常率(含微核率)分别是CK-的2.59、2.17、1.96倍(P<0.05),说明阿特拉津也可引起蝌蚪血红细胞总核异常率升高.图2表1参17     

牛蛙入侵新案例与管理对策分析

牛蛙是ISSG／SSC公布的100种最危险的入侵种之一，也是进入我国最早、分布最广和危害最大的外来两栖动物．1980年以后，由于野外放养和人工驯养地区的迅速扩大，野化种群的数量增加很快，对土著蛙类和农田生态系统的稳定形成了严重威胁．本文依据近年来发现的3个新案例，初步分析了牛蛙在我国的分布状况和牛蛙成功入侵我国的主要原因，以及牛蛙在生物链中的位置和危害，并提出了3条相应的管理对策．图1表2参18     

Threat-sensitive generalization of predator recognition by larval amphibians

Despite the importance of acquired predator recognition in mediating predator–prey interactions, we know little about the specific characteristics that prey use to distinguish predators from non-predators. Recent experiments with mammals and fish indicate that some prey lacking innate predator recognition have the ability to display anti-predator responses upon their first encounter with those predators if they are similar to predators that the prey has recently learned to recognize. This phenomenon is referred to as generalization of predator recognition. In this experiment, we documented for the first time that larval amphibians (woodfrog, Rana sylvatica) have the ability to generalize the recognition of known predators to closely related novel predators. Moreover, we demonstrated that this ability is dependent on the level of risk associated with the known predator. When red-bellied newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster (known predator), was paired with simulated low risk, tadpoles displayed fright responses to newts and novel tiger salamanders, Ambystoma tigrinum, but not to novel African clawed frogs, Xenopus laevis. However, when the newt was paired with simulated high risk, tadpoles generalized their responses to both tiger salamanders and African clawed frogs. Larval anurans seem to have a wider generalization frame than other animals.