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Title: Toxicity of mine drainage to embryonic and larval boreal toads (Bufonidae: Bufo boreas)

Abstract

Chemical analyses and bioassays of mine drainage were made to determine if it could be a factor accounting for the absence of amphibians from Clear Creek County, Colorado. The concentrations of hydrogen ion, iron, copper and zinc in the drainage were all individually much greater than the tolerance levels of premetamorphic toads. The lethality of the drainage was found to be of such a magnitude that it required diluting approximately one thousand times before larvae could survive in it. Boreal toad (Bufo boreas) larvae are more resistant to acidity than most fish but are very similar to other anuran larvae and salmonids in their sensitivity to copper and zinc. (auth)

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Denver
OSTI Identifier:
7175802
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Copeia; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ACID MINE DRAINAGE; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; AMPHIBIANS; BIOASSAY; COPPER; FROGS; IRON; LARVAE; MORTALITY; PH VALUE; ZINC; ANIMALS; AQUATIC ORGANISMS; ELEMENTS; METALS; TRANSITION ELEMENTS; VERTEBRATES; 560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987); 520100 - Environment, Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Porter, K R, and Hakanson, D E. Toxicity of mine drainage to embryonic and larval boreal toads (Bufonidae: Bufo boreas). United States: N. p., 1976. Web. doi:10.2307/1443954.
Porter, K R, & Hakanson, D E. Toxicity of mine drainage to embryonic and larval boreal toads (Bufonidae: Bufo boreas). United States. https://doi.org/10.2307/1443954
Porter, K R, and Hakanson, D E. 1976. "Toxicity of mine drainage to embryonic and larval boreal toads (Bufonidae: Bufo boreas)". United States. https://doi.org/10.2307/1443954.
@article{osti_7175802,
title = {Toxicity of mine drainage to embryonic and larval boreal toads (Bufonidae: Bufo boreas)},
author = {Porter, K R and Hakanson, D E},
abstractNote = {Chemical analyses and bioassays of mine drainage were made to determine if it could be a factor accounting for the absence of amphibians from Clear Creek County, Colorado. The concentrations of hydrogen ion, iron, copper and zinc in the drainage were all individually much greater than the tolerance levels of premetamorphic toads. The lethality of the drainage was found to be of such a magnitude that it required diluting approximately one thousand times before larvae could survive in it. Boreal toad (Bufo boreas) larvae are more resistant to acidity than most fish but are very similar to other anuran larvae and salmonids in their sensitivity to copper and zinc. (auth)},
doi = {10.2307/1443954},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7175802}, journal = {Copeia; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 2,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon May 17 00:00:00 EDT 1976},
month = {Mon May 17 00:00:00 EDT 1976}
}