Effects of ultraviolet radiation on toad early life stages |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Edward?E?LittleEmail author Robin?D?Calfee David?L?Fabacher Cynthia?Carey Vicki?S?Blazer Elizabeth?M?Middleton |
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Institution: | (1) U.S. Geological Survey/Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Road, 65201 Columbia, MO, USA;(2) Department of Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology, University of Colorado, 80309 Boulder, CO, USA;(3) U.S. Geological Survey/National Fish Health Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, 1700 Leetown Road, 25430 Kearneysville, WV, USA;(4) Biospheric Sciences Branch, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, 20771 Greenbelt, MD, USA |
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Abstract: | Background Exposure to harmful levels of ultraviolet-B radiation (UVB), a component of solar radiation, has been suggested as a potential
cause of amphibian declines.
Methods We measured solar radiation (UVB, ultraviolet-A, and visible) wavebands in breeding ponds of Bufo boreas (boreal toad, a montane species that has undergone severe population declines) and Bufo woodhousii (Woodhouse’s toad, a plains toad that has not experienced declines) and examined tolerances of these species to simulated
solar UVB exposures in the laboratory.
Results We found larvae of both species to be tolerant of simulated solar UVB in excess of solar UVB levels observed in their breeding
ponds. B. boreas tadpoles were more tolerant of simulated solar UVB exposure than B. woodhousii tadpoles, possibly because of greater amounts of photoprotective melanin in B. boreas skin.
Conclusions UVB levels observed in B. boreas habitats do not currently appear to constitute a threat to the survival of these animals; however, long-term (>1 month) exposure
to UVB levels comparable to levels associated with the water interface appears to reduce survival in B. woodhousii tadpoles. Therefore, future increases in surface and water column UVB radiation in bufonid habitats might pose significant
survival risks to B. boreas or B. woodhousii populations. |
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Keywords: | Aquatic habitats Bufo boreas Bufo woodhousii embryo/larval tests laboratory exposures photoprotective pigments photoprotection survival ultraviolet radiation UVB tolerance |
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