Multi-level effects of low dose rate ionizing radiation on southern toad, Anaxyrus [Bufo] terrestris

Stark, Karolina; Scott, David E.; Tsyusko, Olga; Coughlin, Daniel P.; Hinton, Thomas G.; Amendola, Roberto

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125327

Title: Multi-level effects of low dose rate ionizing radiation on southern toad, Anaxyrus [Bufo] terrestris

Journal Article · Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · PLoS ONE

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0125327· OSTI ID:1184848

Stark, Karolina ^[1]; Scott, David E. ^[2]; Tsyusko, Olga ^[3]; Coughlin, Daniel P. ^[2]; Hinton, Thomas G. ^[4]; Amendola, Roberto ^[5]

Stockholm Univ. (Sweden); Univ. of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States)
Univ. of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States)
Univ. of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States); Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States)
Univ. of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States); Inst. of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety, Cadarache (France)
ENEA, (Italy)

Despite their potential vulnerability to contaminants from exposure at multiple life stages, amphibians are one of the least studied groups of vertebrates in ecotoxicology, and research on radiation effects in amphibians is scarce. We used multiple endpoints to assess the radiosensitivity of the southern toad (Anaxyrus [Bufo] terrestris) during its pre-terrestrial stages of development –embryonic, larval, and metamorphic. Toads were exposed, from several hours after oviposition through metamorphosis (up to 77 days later), to four low dose rates of ¹³⁷Cs at 0.13, 2.4, 21, and 222 mGy d⁻¹, resulting in total doses up to 15.8 Gy. Radiation treatments did not affect hatching success of embryos, larval survival, or the length of the larval period. The individual family variation in hatching success of embryos was larger than the radiation response. In contrast, newly metamorphosed individuals from the higher dose-rate treatments had higher mass and mass/length body indices, a measure which may relate to higher post-metamorphic survival. The increased mass and index at higher dose rates may indicate that the chronic, low dose rate radiation exposures triggered secondary responses. Additionally, the increases in growth were linked to a decrease in DNA damage (as measured by the Comet Assay) in red blood cells at a dose rate of 21mGy d⁻¹ and a total dose of 1.1 Gy. In conclusion, the complex effects of low dose rates of ionizing radiation may trigger growth and cellular repair mechanisms in amphibian larvae.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Univ. of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: FC09-07SR22506

OSTI ID:: 1184848

Journal Information:: PLoS ONE, Vol. 10, Issue 4; ISSN 1932-6203

Publisher:: Public Library of ScienceCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 13 works

Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (38)

Radiation effects in wild terrestrial vertebrates – the EPIC collection Sazykina, Tatiana; Kryshev, Ivan I. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 88, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2005.12.009	journal	January 2006
Effects of ionizing radiation on wildlife: What knowledge have we gained between the Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents? Beresford, Nicholas A.; Copplestone, David Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, Vol. 7, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.238	journal	June 2011
Low Dose Rate Irradiation Facility: initial study on chronic exposures to medaka Hinton, T. G.; Coughlin, D. P.; Yi, Yi Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 74, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2004.01.014	journal	January 2004
Maternal Transfer of Contaminants and Reduced Reproductive Success of Southern Toads (Bufo [Anaxyrus] terrestris) Exposed to Coal Combustion Waste Metts, Brian S.; Buhlmann, Kurt A.; Tuberville, Tracey D. Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 47, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1021/es303989u	journal	February 2013
DNA damage in zebrafish larvae induced by exposure to low-dose rate γ-radiation: detection by the alkaline comet assay Jarvis, R. B.; Knowles, J. F. Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, Vol. 541, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/s1383-5718(03)00182-7	journal	November 2003
An examination of amphibian sensitivity to environmental contaminants: are amphibians poor canaries? Kerby, Jacob L.; Richards-Hrdlicka, Kathryn L.; Storfer, Andrew Ecology Letters, Vol. 13, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01399.x	journal	January 2010
Towards a unifying theory of late stochastic effects of ionizing radiation Baverstock, Keith; Karotki, Andrei V. Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, Vol. 718, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrgentox.2010.11.003	journal	January 2011
Remarkable Amphibian Biomass and Abundance in an Isolated Wetland: Implications for Wetland Conservation Gibbons, J. Whitfield; Winne, Christopher T.; Scott, David E. Conservation Biology, Vol. 20, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00443.x	journal	October 2006
Pseudoreplication and the Design of Ecological Field Experiments Hurlbert, Stuart H. Ecological Monographs, Vol. 54, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.2307/1942661	journal	February 1984
Post-depositional redistribution and gradual accumulation of 137Cs in a riparian wetland ecosystem in Sweden Stark, K.; Wallberg, P.; Nylén, T. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 87, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2005.11.008	journal	January 2006
An invitation to contribute to a strategic research agenda in radioecology Hinton, T. G.; Garnier-Laplace, J.; Vandenhove, H. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 115 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.07.011	journal	January 2013
Effects of individual variation in age and size at metamorphosis on growth and survivorship of southern toad (Bufo terrestris) metamorphs Beck, Christopher W.; Congdon, Justin D. Canadian Journal of Zoology, Vol. 77, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-77-6-944	journal	January 1999
Interactive effects of maternal and environmental exposure to coal combustion wastes decrease survival of larval southern toads (Bufo terrestris) Metts, Brian S.; Buhlmann, Kurt A.; Scott, David E. Environmental Pollution, Vol. 164 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2012.01.042	journal	May 2012
Within- and among-population level differences in response to chronic copper exposure in southern toads, Anaxyrus terrestris Lance, Stacey L.; Flynn, R. Wesley; Erickson, Matthew R. Environmental Pollution, Vol. 177 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.02.009	journal	June 2013
Protection of the environment from ionising radiation in a regulatory context—an overview of the PROTECT coordinated action project Howard, B. J.; Beresford, N. A.; Andersson, P. Journal of Radiological Protection, Vol. 30, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1088/0952-4746/30/2/s01	journal	June 2010
Transport and redistribution of Chernobyl fallout radionuclides by fluvial processes: Some preliminary evidence Walling, D. E.; Bradley, S. B. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, Vol. 10, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01758590	journal	June 1988
Status and Trends of Amphibian Declines and Extinctions Worldwide Stuart, Simon N.; Chanson, Janice S.; Cox, Neil A. Science, Vol. 306, Issue 5702 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1103538	journal	October 2004
The complexity of amphibian population declines: understanding the role of cofactors in driving amphibian losses Blaustein, Andrew R.; Han, Barbara A.; Relyea, Rick A. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 1223, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05909.x	journal	March 2011
Influence of Amphibian Larvae on Primary Production, Nutrient Flux, and Competition in a Pond Ecosystem Seale, Dianne B. Ecology, Vol. 61, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.2307/1939059	journal	December 1980
Top-down effects of a terrestrial frog on forest nutrient dynamics Beard, Karen H.; Vogt, Kristiina A.; Kulmatiski, Andrew Oecologia, Vol. 133, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-002-1071-9	journal	December 2002
Introduction to nonpoint source pollution in the United States and prospects for wetland use Baker, Lawrence A. Ecological Engineering, Vol. 1, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0925-8574(92)90023-U	journal	March 1992
Peer Reviewed: Challenges in Ecotoxicology Eggen, Rik I. L.; Behra, Renata; Burkhardt-Holm, Patricia Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 38, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1021/es040349c	journal	February 2004
Biological basis for protection of the environment Larsson, C-M. Annals of the ICRP, Vol. 41, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icrp.2012.06.019	journal	October 2012
Effects of two stressors on amphibian larval development Stark, Karolina; Scott, David E.; Tsyusko, Olga Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Vol. 79 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2012.01.014	journal	May 2012
Time and Size at Metamorphosis Related to Adult Fitness in Ambystoma Talpoideum Semlitsch, Raymond D.; Scott, David E.; Pechmann, Joseph H. K. Ecology, Vol. 69, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.2307/1943173	journal	February 1988
The Effect of Larval Density on Adult Demographic Traits in Ambystoma Opacum Scott, David E. Ecology, Vol. 75, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.2307/1937462	journal	July 1994
Effects of Hydroperiod on Metamorphosis in Rana sphenocephala Ryan, Travis J.; Winne, Christopher T. The American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 145, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1674/0003-0031(2001)145[0046:EOHOMI]2.0.CO;2	journal	January 2001
Effects of Hydroperiod Duration on Survival, Developmental Rate, and Size at Metamorphosis in Boreal Chorus Frog Tadpoles (Pseudacris maculata) Amburgey, Staci; Funk, W. Chris; Murphy, Melanie Herpetologica, Vol. 68, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-11-00093	journal	December 2012
A simple technique for quantitation of low levels of DNA damage in individual cells Singh, Narendra P.; McCoy, Michael T.; Tice, Raymond R. Experimental Cell Research, Vol. 175, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-4827(88)90265-0	journal	March 1988
Comet assay: rapid processing of multiple samples McNamee, J. P.; McLean, J. R. N.; Ferrarotto, C. L. Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, Vol. 466, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1383-5718(00)00004-8	journal	March 2000
Hormesis: why it is Important to Toxicology and Toxicologists Calabrese, Edward J. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 27, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1897/07-541.1	journal	January 2008
Differential genetic responses to ionizing irradiation in individual families of Japanese medaka, Oryzias latipes Tsyusko, O.; Glenn, T.; Yi, Y. Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, Vol. 718, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrgentox.2010.11.001	journal	January 2011
Cytogenetic dose–response and adaptive response in cells of ungulate species exposed to ionizing radiation Ulsh, B. A.; Miller, S. M.; Mallory, F. F. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 74, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2004.01.005	journal	January 2004
Adaptive response in frogs chronically exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation in the environment Audette-Stuart, M.; Kim, S. B.; McMullin, D. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 102, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.03.001	journal	June 2011
Radiocesium concentrations and DNA strand breakage in two species of amphibians from the Chornobyl exclusion zone Jagoe, C. H.; Majeske, A. J.; Oleksyk, T. K. Radioprotection, Vol. 37, Issue C1 https://doi.org/10.1051/radiopro/2002217	journal	February 2002
Environmental biodosimetry: a biologically relevant tool for ecological risk assessment and biomonitoring Ulsh, B.; Hinton, T. G.; Congdon, J. D. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 66, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0265-931X(02)00119-4	journal	January 2003
Variations in radiosensitivity during development of the frogLimnodynastes tasmaniensis Panter, H. C. Journal of Experimental Zoology, Vol. 238, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.1402380209	journal	May 1986
Effects of Whole-Body Gamma Irradiation on Various Life Stages of the Toad, Bufo woodhousei fowleri Landreth, H. F.; Dunaway, P. B.; Cosgrove, G. E. Radiation Research, Vol. 58, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.2307/3573912	journal	June 1974

Similar Records

Lethal and sublethal measures of chronic copper toxicity in the eastern narrowmouth toad, Gastrophryne carolinensis

Journal Article · Fri Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry · OSTI ID:1184848

Flynn, R. Wesley; Scott, David E.; Kuhne, Wendy; +2 more

RADIATION-INDUCED GENETIC DAMAGE IN THE MEXICAN TOAD (BUFO VALLICEPS)

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1960 · Texas J. Sci. · OSTI ID:1184848

Blair, W F

Variation in metal tolerance associated with population exposure history in Southern toads (Anaxyrus terrestris)

Journal Article · Thu Dec 13 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Aquatic Toxicology · OSTI ID:1184848

Flynn, R. Wesley; Love, Cara N.; Coleman, Austin; +1 more

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.

Title: Multi-level effects of low dose rate ionizing radiation on southern toad, Anaxyrus [Bufo] terrestris

Citation Formats

References (38)

Similar Records

Related Subjects