Chronic toxicity of copper on embryo development in Chinese toad, Bufo gargarizans

This study examined the effects of copper exposure on embryonic development of Chinese toad, Bufo gargarizans. Firstly, the LC₅₀ values from 24 to 96 h of exposure were 3.61 × 10⁻⁶ M, by means of a 4 d toxicity test with B. gargarizans embryos. Secondly, Chinese toad embryos were exposed to 10⁻⁹-10⁻⁶ M copper from mid gastrula stage to operculum completion stage. Measurements included mortality, tadpole weight, tadpole total length, growth retardation, duration of different embryo stages and malformation. Embryonic survival was not affected by copper. Relative to control tadpoles, significantly decreased weight and total length were found at 10^-9-10^-6 M reduced percentage of the embryos in right operculum stage after 10 d exposure to copper and reduced percentage of embryos in operculum completion stage after 12 d exposure to copper were also observed. Moreover, the duration of embryonic development increased at neural, circulation and operculum development stage in copper-treated groups. For the scanning microscope and histological observation, the abnormalities were malformation of wavy dorsal fin, flexural tail, curvature body axis, yolk sac oedema and reduced pigmentation in the yolk sac. Histopathological changes in olfactory, retinal epithelium and skin were also observed. DNA strand breaks exposed to the copper were analyzed by DNA ladder. In conclusion, copper induced toxic effects on B. gargarizans embryos. The present study indicated chronic toxicity tests may provide more accurate way in formulating the “safe levels” of heavy metals to amphibian.     

Impact of Invasive Cane Toads on Australian Birds

Abstract: The cane toad (Bufo marinus), a large, toxic, American anuran, was introduced to Australia in 1935. Populations of many of Australia's reptiles (snakes, varanid lizards, crocodiles) and carnivorous mammals (dasyurid marsupials) have declined because these predators are killed by the toad's powerful toxins. In contrast to these well‐studied species, little is known about the cane toads impacts on Australian birds. We reviewed published and unpublished data on behavioral interactions between Australian avian predators and cane toads and collated distributional and dietary information to identify avian taxa potentially at risk from cane toad invasion. Cane toads are sympatric with 172 frog‐eating bird species in Australia, and an additional 8 bird species overlap with the predicted future range of the toad. Although many bird species thus are potentially at risk, behavioral observations suggest the risk level is generally low. Despite occasional reports of Australian birds being killed when they ingest cane toads, most birds either ignore toads or survive the predation event. The apparently higher tolerance of Australian birds to toad toxins, compared with Australian reptiles and marsupials, may reflect genetic exchange between Australian birds and Asian populations that encounter other bufonid species regularly and hence have evolved the capacity to recognize or tolerate this toxic prey.     

镉致蟾蜍肝、肾脂质过氧化损伤

以腹腔注射法对蟾蜍(Bufo gargarizans)给镉(按动物体重的质量分数分别给0．1mg kg^-1，0．2mg kg^-1，0．4mg kg^-1，0．8mg kg^-1的Cd)，处理7d后，测定其肝、肾丙二醛(MDA)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH—PX)、谷胱甘肽-S转移酶(GSH—ST)的活性．结果显示，一定浓度的镉能引起肝、肾MDA含量明显增加，而GSH含量及SOD、CAT、GSH—ST酶的活性则显著下降．提示一定浓度的镉能引起蟾蜍肝、肾组织脂质过氧化损伤，使蟾蜍肝、肾抗氧化能力、抗诱变能力降低；脂质过氧化损伤可能与GSH的耗竭、抗氧化酶SOD、CAT等酶活性的降低有关．图6参16     

Herbicide exposure affects the chemical recognition of a non native predator in common toad tadpoles (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bufo bufo</Emphasis>)

Summary. In amphibians and fishes, evidence is increasing that chemical cues from injured conspecifics can play a role in the chemical labelling and learned recognition of unfamiliar predators. In this laboratory study, we tested the prediction that prior chemical exposure to a non-native predator feeding on conspecific tadpoles will subsequently allow tadpoles of the common toad (Bufo bufo) to recognize the chemical cues specifically released by this starved predator. Furthermore, we investigated the vulnerability of this chemically-mediated process to herbicide contamination. With these aims in view, groups of tadpoles were kept either unexposed or exposed for ten days to chemical cues from Turkish crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) previously fed on tadpoles, both in uncontaminated water and in the presence of four sublethal concentrations of amitrole (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg.l⁻¹). We then assessed the effects of the six conditioning treatments on general activity and behavioural response to chemical cues from starved crayfish. Larval treatments did not affect the general activity of the tadpoles. By contrast, the treatments had significant effects on the behavioural response to the test solution prepared form starved crayfish. The only tadpoles to show an antipredator behavioural response to the chemical stimulation from starved crayfish belonged to the groups derived from chemical exposure to tadpole-fed crayfish in uncontaminated water and in contaminated water with the lowest concentration of amitrole (0.01 mg.l⁻¹). Conversely, this chemical stimulation produced no behavioural change in the control group or in the groups derived from exposure to tadpole-fed crayfish in contaminated water containing 0.1, 1 and 10 mg.l⁻¹ of amitrole. This study demonstrates that chemical cues released during the predator’s feeding activity can subsequently be used by common toad tadpoles in the recognition of an unfamiliar predator. In addition, our results show that the presence of sublethal amitrole concentrations can impair this recognition process. Such a pesticide effect might be especially detrimental for amphibian populations threatened by invasive predators.     

三氯生胁迫下中华大蟾蜍蝌蚪RAPD条件的优化及分析

以中华大蟾蜍(Bufo gargarizans)蝌蚪为试验材料,对26期蝌蚪进行了0、50μg/L和100μg/L三氯生的慢性水体暴露直至蝌蚪发育至变态高峰期(42期);暴露结束后,以对照基因组DNA为模板,采用单因素试验对RAPD反应体系中的DNA聚合酶用量、d NTPs浓度、引物浓度和模板用量进行了优化,并采用该技术评估了三氯生暴露对蝌蚪的遗传毒性效应。结果表明,25μL RAPD反应体系中各因子的适宜用量或浓度分别为:模板DNA 25 ng,d NTPs 200μmol/L,Taq DNA 1.0 U,引物0.4μmol/L。与对照相比,三氯生暴露处理蝌蚪的RAPD图谱出现了明显的扩增谱带的变化;50μg/L和100μg/L的三氯生慢性暴露可导致模板稳定性分别下降至58.4%和49.3%。研究表明,RAPD技术可以有效地用于检测三氯生胁迫所造成的DNA损伤。三氯生污染所引发的毒理效应不容忽视。     

Importance of Habitat Quality and Landscape Connectivity for the Persistence of Endangered Natterjack Toads

Abstract: The natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) is endangered in several parts of its distribution, including Belgium, where it occurs mainly in artificial habitats. We parameterized a general model for natterjack population viability analysis (PVA) and tested its sensitivity to changes in the values of basic parameters. Then we assessed the relative efficiency of various conservation measures in 2 situations: a small isolated population and a system of 4 populations connected by rare dispersal movements. We based the population viability analysis on a stage‐structured model of natterjack population dynamics. We parameterized the model in the RAMAS GIS platform with vital rates obtained from our own field experience and from published studies. Simulated natterjack populations were highly sensitive to habitat quality (particularly pond drying), to dispersal from surrounding local populations, and to a lesser extent to values of fecundity and survival of terrestrial stages. Population trajectories were nearly insensitive to initial abundances, carrying capacities, and the frequency of extreme climatic conditions. The simulations showed that in habitats with highly ephemeral ponds, where premetamorphosis mortality was high, natterjack populations nearly always had a very high extinction risk. We also illustrated how low dispersal rates (<1 dispersing individual/generation) efficiently rescued declining local populations. Such source‐sink dynamics demonstrate that the identification and management of source populations should be a high priority.     

Cu2+、Zn2+和Cd2+对蟾蜍蝌蚪的联合毒性

以蟾蜍蝌蚪为试验材料,采用联合指数相加法,研究了重金属铜(Cu)、锌(Zn)和镉(Cd)离子对蟾蜍蝌蚪的急性毒性和联合毒性效应.结果表明,Cu2 、Zn2 和Cd2 对蟾蜍蝌蚪的毒性顺序为Cu2 >Cd2 >Zn2 ,48 h的半致死浓度LC50分别为0.514、9.224、33.56 mg L-1;96 h的半致死浓度LC50分别为0.288、8.142、30.76 mg L-1.联合毒性试验结果表明,Cu2 与Zn2 及Zn2 与Cd2 共存时的联合毒性为拮抗作用;Cu2 与Cd2 共存时的联合毒性为毒性剧增的协同作用;Cu2 、Zn2 与Cd2 三者联合时的毒性为协同作用.表6参18     

锌离子慢性暴露对中华大蟾蜍蝌蚪生长发育的影响

为评价水域环境中Zn~(2+)对两栖动物的毒性影响,本研究以中华大蟾蜍(Bufo gargarizans)蝌蚪为试验材料,对G26期蝌蚪进行了0、10、50、100和500μg·L~(-1)Zn~(2+)的慢性水体暴露直至蝌蚪发育至变态高峰期(G42期)。分别于暴露15 d和30 d后取样测定蝌蚪全长、体长、体重和发育分期各指标;此外,分析了Zn~(2+)慢性水体暴露对变态率、变态高峰期(G42)蝌蚪的全长、体长、体重、后肢长和骨骼发育的影响。结果表明:暴露15 d时,各浓度Zn~(2+)对中华大蟾蜍蝌蚪的生长发育均未造成显著影响,而持续暴露30 d后,500μg·L~(-1)Zn~(2+)处理组蝌蚪的生长发育受到显著抑制;各浓度Zn~(2+)慢性暴露均导致中华大蟾蜍蝌蚪变态率的下降,其中500μg·L~(-1)Zn~(2+)处理组的变态率最低;500μg·L~(-1)Zn~(2+)慢性暴露导致G42期中华大蟾蜍蝌蚪的形态指标(全长、体长、后肢长)和骨化程度均受到显著抑制。研究表明,水环境中高浓度锌对中华大蟾蜍幼体的生长发育和变态具有潜在的危害,水域锌污染所引发的毒理效应予以重视。     

Evaluating the Effects of Anthropogenic Stressors on Source‐Sink Dynamics in Pond‐Breeding Amphibians

Although interwetland dispersal is thought to play an important role in regional persistence of pond‐breeding amphibians, few researchers have modeled amphibian metapopulation or source‐sink dynamics. Results of recent modeling studies suggest anthropogenic stressors, such as pollution, can negatively affect density and population viability of amphibians breeding in isolated wetlands. Presumably population declines also result in reduced dispersal to surrounding (often uncontaminated) habitats, potentially affecting dynamics of nearby populations. We used our data on the effects of mercury (Hg) on the American toad ( Bufo americanus) as a case study in modeling the effects of anthropogenic stressors on landscape‐scale amphibian dynamics. We created a structured metapopulation model to investigate regional dynamics of American toads and to evaluate the degree to which detrimental effects of Hg contamination on individual populations can disrupt interpopulation dynamics. Dispersal from typical American toad populations supported nearby populations that would otherwise have been extirpated over long time scales. Through support of such sink populations, dispersal between wetland‐associated subpopulations substantially increased overall productivity of wetland networks, but this effect declined with increasing interwetland distance and decreasing wetland size. Contamination with Hg substantially reduced productivity of wetland‐associated subpopulations and impaired the ability of populations to support nearby sinks within relevant spatial scales. Our results add to the understanding of regional dynamics of pond‐breeding amphibians, the wide‐reaching negative effects of environmental contaminants, and the potential for restoration or remediation of degraded habitats. Evaluación de los Efectos de Estresantes Antropogénicos sobre la Dinámica Fuente‐Vertedero en Anfibios que se Reproducen en Charcas     

Ecological Impact Assessment in Data-Poor Systems: A Case Study on Metapopulation Persistence

Legislation on the protection of biodiversity (e.g., European Union Habitat and Bird Directives) increasingly requires ecological impact assessment of human activities. However, knowledge and understanding of relevant ecological processes and species responses to different types of impact are often incomplete. In this paper we demonstrate with a case study how impact assessment can be carried out for situations where data are scarce but some expert knowledge is available. The case study involves two amphibian species, the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) and the natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) in the nature reserve the Meinweg in the Netherlands, for which plans are being developed to reopen an old railway track called the Iron Rhine. We assess the effects of this railway track and its proposed alternatives (scenarios) on the metapopulation extinction time and the occupancy times of the patches for both species using a discrete-time stochastic metapopulation model. We quantify the model parameters using expert knowledge and extrapolated data. Because of our uncertainty about these parameter values, we perform a Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis. This yields an estimate of the probability distribution of the model predictions and insight into the contribution of each distinguished source of uncertainty to this probability distribution. We show that with a simple metapopulation model and an extensive uncertainty analysis it is possible to detect the least harmful scenario. The ranking of the different scenarios is consistent. Thus, uncertainty analysis can enhance the role of ecological impact assessment in decision making by making explicit to what extent incomplete knowledge affects predictions.