Bioaccumulation of trace elements in omnivorous amphibian larvae: implications for amphibian health and contaminant transport.
Despite the influence that amphibians have on the flow of energy and nutrients in ecological systems, the role that amphibians play in transporting contaminants through food webs has received very little attention. This study was undertaken to investigate bioaccumulation of trace elements in amphibians relative to other small aquatic organisms in a contaminated wetland. We collected bullfrog larvae (Rana catesbeiana) along with three other species of small vertebrates and four species of invertebrates from a site contaminated with a wide array of trace elements and analyzed them for trace element concentrations and stable nitrogen and carbon isotope composition. We found that amphibian larvae accumulated the highest concentrations of most trace elements, possibly due to their feeding ecology. These results suggest that omnivorous amphibian larvae can serve as a critical link for trace element trophic transfer. Their propensity to accumulate trace elements may have important implications for amphibian health in contaminated environments and should be further investigated.
Unrine
Jason M
JM
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, The University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA. unrine@srel.edu
Hopkins
William A
WA
Romanek
Christopher S
CS
Jackson
Brian P
BP
D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D020387:Food Chain; D007814:Larva / Q000737:chemistry; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D011892:Rana catesbeiana / Q000378:metabolism*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D053833:Wetlands
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D014131:Trace Elements