The role of the egg jelly coat in protecting<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hyla regilla</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bufo canorus</Emphasis> embryos from ultraviolet B radiation during development |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Lara?J?HansenEmail author David?L?Fabacher Robin?Calfee |
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Institution: | Section of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA. lara.hansen@wwfus.org |
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Abstract: | BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation may play a role in amphibian population declines. Some of these studies also indicate that egg hatching success is unaltered in some species of anurans as a result of UVB exposure. It has been proposed that the egg mass jelly provides photoprotection to the developing embryos. METHODS: Direct spectrophotometric scans of egg jelly, scans of egg jelly methanol extracts, and experimental manipulation in a solar simulator during development were all used to assess the role of egg mass jelly as a photoprotective agent. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: For Hyla regilla, scans of egg jelly and methanolic extracts (for mycosporine-like amino acid content) both displayed no absorption in the UV range. Experimental manipulation (removal of egg mass jelly) with both Hyla regilla and Bufo canorus egg masses in a solar simulator demonstrated that egg mass jelly played no apparent role in photoprotection of either of these species. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results in this study it seems unlikely that the egg jelly coat is playing a crucial role in protecting developing embryos from the impact of UVB radiation. |
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Keywords: | Amphibian declines amphibian hatching success Bufo canorus egg jelly Hylaregilla UVB radiation |
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