Subtle effects of environmental stress observed in the early life stages of the Common frog, Rana temporaria.
Worldwide amphibian populations are declining due to habitat loss, disease and pollution. Vulnerability to environmental contaminants such as pesticides will be dependent on the species, the sensitivity of the ontogenic life stage and hence the timing of exposure and the exposure pathway. Herein we investigated the biochemical tissue 'fingerprint' in spawn and early-stage tadpoles of the Common frog, Rana temporaria, using attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy with the objective of observing differences in the biochemical constituents of the respective amphibian tissues due to varying water quality in urban and agricultural ponds. Our results demonstrate that levels of stress (marked by biochemical constituents such as glycogen that are involved in compensatory metabolic mechanisms) can be observed in tadpoles present in the pond most impacted by pollution (nutrients and pesticides), but large annual variability masked any inter-site differences in the frog spawn. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy is capable of detecting differences in tadpoles that are present in selected ponds with different levels of environmental perturbation and thus serves as a rapid and cost effective tool in assessing stress-related effects of pollution in a vulnerable class of organism.
Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
Rebecca
R
Strong
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), Preston PR1 2HE, UK.
Francis L
FL
Martin
Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
Kevin C
KC
Jones
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
Richard F
RF
Shore
Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
Crispin J
CJ
Halsall
D029845:Amphibian Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D061005:Ponds / Q000737:chemistry; D011896:Rana temporaria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D060753:Water Quality; D015053:Zygote / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D029845:Amphibian Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D010575:Pesticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D006003:Glycogen