Effects of acute and chronic acidification on three larval amphibians that breed in temporary ponds

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (Germany)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216243· OSTI ID:6996984

Rowe, C L; Sadinski, W J; Dunson, W A ^[1]

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1. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (United States)

This study explored the effects of acute (7 days) and chronic (4 months) exposure to pH 4.2 on three species of larval amphibians, Ambystoma jeffersonianum, Ambystoma maculatum, and Rana sylvatica. Acute tests were conducted in 24 impermeable enclosures in three temporary ponds. Total dissolved aluminum was higher in acidified enclosures in comparison with controls (pH 4.2, [Al] approximately 10-30 microM and pH greater than 4.7, [Al] approximately 5-15 microM, respectively). Greater mortality of A. jeffersonianum occurred at pH 4.2 than at pH greater than 4.7, whereas survival of A. maculatum and R. sylvatica were unaffected by pH. Mean wet masses of R. sylvatica were significantly lower at pH 4.2 than at pH greater than 4.7, but mean wet masses of surviving A. jeffersonianum and A. maculatum were not influenced by pH. There were no pH-related differences in body sodium concentration in larval R. sylvatica. Chronic acidification of mesocosms to pH 4.2 ([Al] approximately 16 microM) (controls = pH greater than 6, [Al] approximately 0.1 microM) resulted in total mortality of A. jeffersonianum. Survival of A. maculatum and R. sylvatica were not associated with pH, but survival of A. maculatum was low at both pH levels. Time to metamorphosis was longer for R. sylvatica maintained at pH 4.2, but not for A. maculatum. No differences in wet masses at metamorphosis were observed for R. sylvatica or A. maculatum. These results indicate that short and long term acidification of temporary wetlands could dramatically affect amphibians which rely upon them as breeding sites, either by causing mortality or by decreasing growth rates.

• OSTI ID: 6996984
• Journal Information: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (Germany), Vol. 23:3; ISSN 0090-4341
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACIDIFICATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
AMPHIBIANS
ACUTE EXPOSURE
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
PONDS
ACID RAIN
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BREEDING
FRESH WATER
METAMORPHOSIS
MORTALITY
PH VALUE
WETLANDS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
ECOSYSTEMS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NUCLEAR FUEL CONVERSION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RAIN
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
WATER
551000* - Physiological Systems
550800 - Morphology
550500 - Metabolism