Short-term and long-term survival studies in Rana tigrina tadpoles with reference to methyl parathion toxicity

Toxicity of methyl parathion was studied on survival of Rana tigrina tadpoles. The LC50 values for short-term (upto 96 h) and long term studies (hatching to froglet) were determined. The LC50 values for 96 h and the total larval period were 4.36 and 1.30 ppm respectively. The toxicity of methyl parathion enchanced in relation to increase in concentration and duration. Teratological defects such as scoliosis and failure in emergence of fore limb were noticed. Safe levels were calculated for short-term (0.1 ppm) and long-term (0.03 ppm) studies. The present work stresses the neccessity of long term study especially for the developing amphibians.     

Vocal competition in male Xenopus laevis frogs

Male Xenopus laevis frogs produce underwater advertisement calls that attract gravid females and suppress calling by male competitors. Here we explore whether groups of males establish vocal ranks and whether auditory cues alone suffice for vocal suppression. Tests of male–male pairs within assigned groups reveal linear vocal dominance relations, in which each male has a defined rank. Both the duration over which males interact, as well as the number of competitive opportunities, affect linearity. Linear dominance across the group is stable for about 2 weeks; rank is dynamic. Males engage in physical interactions (clasping) while paired but clasping and vocal rank are not correlated. Playbacks of advertisement calls suppress calling and calls from high- and low-ranking males are equally effective. Thus, auditory cues alone suffice to suppress vocal behavior. Playback intensities equivalent to a nearby male advertising effectively suppress calling while low-intensity playbacks are either ineffective or stimulate vocal behavior. X. laevis advertisement calls are biphasic, composed of alternating fast and slow click trills. Approximately half the males tested are more vocally suppressed by all slow than by all fast trills; thus, these males can distinguish between the two phases. The fully aquatic family Pipidae diverged from terrestrial ancestors approximately 170 mya. Vocal suppression in the X. laevis mating system may represent the translation of an ancient anuran social strategy to underwater life.     

Risk level of chemical cues determines retention of recognition of new predators in Iberian green frog tadpoles

In aquatic environments, many prey rely on chemosensory information from injured (alarm cues) or stressed conspecifics (disturbance cues) to assess predation risk. Alarm cues are considered as a sign of higher risk than disturbance cues. These cues could be used by prey to learn potential new predators. In this study, we tested whether Iberian green frog tadpoles (Pelophylax perezi) exhibited antipredator responses to alarm and disturbance cues of conspecifics and whether tadpoles could associate new predators with alarm or disturbance cues. Tadpoles reduced their activity in the presence of disturbance cues, but only weakly when compared with their response to alarm cues. Also, tadpoles learned to recognize new predators from association with alarm or disturbance cues. However, the period of retention of the learned association was shorter for disturbance than alarm cues. Our results indicate that tadpoles are able to modify their antipredatory behavior according to (1) the degree of risk implied by the experimental cues (2) their previous experience of chemical cues of the predator.     

Reaction of ortho-methoxybenzoic acid with the water disinfecting agents ozone, chlorine and sodium hypochlorite

Ozone, chlorine and sodium hypochlorite are commonly used as disinfecting agents for drinking water production. The reaction pathways of ozonation and chlorination of o-methoxybenzoic acid in aqueous solution were studied using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results show that less than 1% of o-methoxybenzoic acid remains in reaction. The final major products using ozone oxidation are oxalic and glyoxalic acids. Phenols appear only at insufficient ozone levels. Sodium hypochlorite leads to higher levels of primary products. Molecular chlorine leads to the formation of higher amounts of polychlorinated derivatives. Model experiments allow to propose schemes of o-methoxybenzoic acid transformation under the conditions simulating water treatment processes.     

Chronic exposure effects of copper on growth,metamorphosis and thyroid gland,liver health in Chinese toad,Bufo gargarizans tadpoles

The impact of copper exposure on Chinese toad (Bufo gargarizans) tadpoles was investigated in this study. First, the 96h LC50 value of copper was 8.697 μM, by means of a 4 d acute toxicity test. Second, we studied the chronic effects of copper on B. gargarizans tadpoles at control, 0.025, 0.1 and 1.0 μM concentration. Survival, body length, body weight, developmental stage, incidence of metamorphic climax, and size at metamorphic climax were determined. In tadpoles developed to metamorphic climax (stage G42), liver and thyroid gland were assessed histologically. Copper at 0.1 and 1.0 μM could inhibit tadpole growth and prolong tadpole metamorphic progress relative to controls. Tadpole size (total length and weight) at stage G42 is also affected in the 0.1 and 1.0 μM treatments. In addition, histological examinations have revealed that 1.0 μM copper could cause significant pathological changes and hepatocytes degeneration in liver. Furthermore, histomorphological measurements indicated that copper at 0.1 and 1.0 μM reduced thyroid gland size, diameter and number of follicle. In conclusion, our study suggests that Cu could damage the liver and thyroid gland, so growth and metamorphosis of B. gargarizans tadpoles were inhibited resulted of disrupting liver metabolism and THs homeostasis.     

Simulation of aquatic food web and species interactions by adaptive agents embodied with evolutionary computation: a conceptual framework

Individual-based and state variable-based adaptive agents (AA) are discussed regarding their relevance to different types of ecosystems. Individual-based AA proved applicable to a spatially explicit simulation of highly simplified terrestrial food webs. State variable-based AA with evolutionary computation (EC) embodied are suggested for the simulation of aquatic food webs and plankton species interactions. Embodiment of EC in AA can be achieved by evolving predictive rules (ER), differential equations (EDE) or artificial neural networks (ANN) derived from a diverse lake database. In order to provide ecosystem simulation with resilience to environmental change, agent banks can be created containing alternative agents for same species or functional groups from different lakes. State variable-based AA are currently tested for aquatic ecosytem simulation by means of a diverse lake database. It promises to overcome constraints by the rigidity of traditional lake ecosystem models.     

Effects of sublethal concentrations of isoxaben on the development of the African clawed frog,Xenopus laevis

Agricultural pesticide exposure is one factor implicated in the decline of amphibian abundance in aquatic ecosystems. Isoxaben is a cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor mainly used for roadside weed control, suggesting that isoxaben can run off during rain events and potentially affect amphibian development. This study followed the development of African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) tadpoles exposed to different environmentally relevant concentrations of isoxaben. No significant adverse effects were observed on days to metamorphosis or size and weight at metamorphosis. This reinforces the conclusion that isoxaben herbicide application at low environmental concentrations is not a substantial risk to wildlife.     

钢铁工业遗留场地土壤重金属洗脱剂筛选研究

土壤重金属污染限制了工业遗留场地再利用,通过振荡试验考察了HCl、HNO3和EDTA对工业遗留场地土壤中超标重金属Pb、Zn、Cd和As的洗脱效果。结果表明：土壤Pb、Zn、Cd、As的脱除效果均随洗脱剂浓度增加而增加;HCl、HNO3和EDTA等3种洗脱剂浓度分别为0.5、0.5和0.1 mol.L-1时,土壤Pb、Cd质量分数可降低至场地安全再利用的控制标准以内（分别为140 mg.kg-1、1mg.kg-1）;洗脱剂浓度分别增至2、2和0.2 mol.L-1时,土壤Pb、Cd质量分数继续降低,Zn、As质量分数有大幅降低但没有达到其相应的场地安全控制标准（分别为200、20 mg.kg-1）;与EDTA相比,HCl在低浓度时的重金属脱除效果较差,但HCl浓度增加对重金属脱除率的提高效果更为明显;洗脱液pH值（7.88~0.15）与重金属脱除率均呈显著负相关且与As的负相关系数最小,说明洗脱液pH值变化对As去除的影响相对较小;与HCl和HNO3相比,EDTA洗脱液pH值与Pb脱除率之间的负相关系数较大,与Zn、Cd、As脱除率之间的负相关系数较较小,说明EDTA洗脱液pH值变化更易对Pb的去除产生影响。     

Some particulate and soluble agents affecting the relationship between metal toxicity and organism survival in the calanoid copepod Euchaeta japonica

Particulate and water-soluble agents were tested to determine their ability to affect the relationship between metal toxicity and the survival of Euchaeta japonica (Copepoda, Calanoida). Clay minerals and diatoms were two types of particles capable of affecting this relationship. Ascorbic acid, sewage effluent, and water extracts of humic acid and two types of soils exhibited the same capability. The ability of the water-soluble agents was compared with that of a known chelating agent in an attempt to quantify the activity of the agents.     

The effect of application time of mobilising agents on growth and phytoextraction of lead by Brassica napus from a calcareous mine soil

Phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated sites is often limited by the low-bioavailability of the contaminants. Complexing agents can help to improve this technique by enhancing heavy metal solubility. Pot experiments were conducted to determine the best time for the application of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sheep manure extract (SME) for phytoremediation of a contaminated soil by Brassica napus. The plant was grown on a mine calcareous soil treated with increasing concentrations of EDTA or SME 30 and 10?days before sowing (T1 and T2) and 10 and 30?days after sowing (T3 and T4). Soil available Pb and lead concentrations in plant organs of Brassica napus increased with EDTA concentration. The EDTA application before seed germination significantly reduced rapeseed seedling emergence and dry weight. However, the actual amount of phytoextracted Pb by rapeseed did not decrease significantly, due to severe growth depression, at high EDTA concentrations when it had applied at a suitable time (T4). SME application after sowing increased plant dry weight and Pb concentration in the soil solution and enhanced the accumulated metal concentrations in shoots and roots. Comparing the effect of EDTA and SME on Pb phytoextraction, the study showed that SME is not more effective than EDTA. The efficiency of EDTA on Pb phytoextraction by Brassica napus depends on the time of application. The most efficient treatment for Pb phytoextraction by rapeseed was application of 2?g EDTA/kg soil at T4.