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Gerstle V, Bollinger E, Manfrin A, Pietz S, Kolbenschlag S, Feckler A, Entling MH, Brühl CA. Trophic effects of Bti-based mosquito control on two top predators in floodplain pond mesocosms. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:45485-45494. [PMID: 38967849 PMCID: PMC11269390 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34124-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Chironomid (Diptera: Chironomidae) larvae play a key role in aquatic food webs as prey for predators like amphibian and dragonfly larvae. This trophic link may be disrupted by anthropogenic stressors such as Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti), a biocide widely used in mosquito control. In a companion study, we recorded a 41% reduction of non-target larval chironomids abundance in outdoor floodplain pond mesocosms (FPMs) treated with Bti. Therefore, we examined the diet of two top predators in the FPMs, larvae of the palmate newt (Salamandridae: Lissotriton helveticus) and dragonfly (Aeshnidae: predominantly Anax imperator), using bulk stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen. Additionally, we determined neutral lipid fatty acids in newt larvae to assess diet-related effects on their physiological condition. We did not find any effects of Bti on the diet proportions of newt larvae and no significant effects on the fatty acid content. We observed a trend in Aeshnidae larvae from Bti-FPMs consuming a higher proportion of large prey (Aeshnidae, newt, damselfly larvae; ~42%), and similar parts of smaller prey (chironomid, mayfly, Libellulidae, and zooplankton), compared to controls. Our findings may suggest bottom-up effects of Bti on aquatic predators but should be further evaluated, for instance, by using compound-specific stable isotope analyses of fatty acids or metabarcoding approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Gerstle
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, iES Landau, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany.
- Eußerthal Ecosystem Research Station, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Birkenthalstraße 13, D-76857, Eußerthal, Germany.
| | - Eric Bollinger
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, iES Landau, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Alessandro Manfrin
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, iES Landau, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Sebastian Pietz
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, iES Landau, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Sara Kolbenschlag
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, iES Landau, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Alexander Feckler
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, iES Landau, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
- Eußerthal Ecosystem Research Station, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Birkenthalstraße 13, D-76857, Eußerthal, Germany
| | - Martin H Entling
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, iES Landau, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Carsten A Brühl
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, iES Landau, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
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Borumand-Fumany B, Vaissi S, Javanbakht H, Haghighi ZMS. Marsh frog response to urea fertilizer during the embryonic, larval, and metamorphosis stages: a new perspective into urea toxicity on amphibians. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:92581-92593. [PMID: 37493908 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28859-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Amphibian populations are declining worldwide. These declines are caused by a variety of factors, one of which is the use of fertilizers in agriculture. This is especially true for tadpoles, which may develop in fertilizer-polluted agricultural water bodies. Nevertheless, there is little data on the toxicological consequences of fertilizers on amphibians. The goal of this study was to determine the acute and chronic toxicity of urea fertilizer on marsh frogs' (Pelophylax sp.) embryonic, larval, and metamorphic stages. For this purpose, in a static-renewal test, individuals were exposed to twelve nominal concentrations (0 to 15000 mg/L) of urea for 122 days to determine hatching success, survival, growth, development, and metamorphic traits, as well as histological consequences. Based on the results, at concentrations greater than 500 mg/L, no hatching occurred. Survivorship was unaffected for the first 72 hours, but it reached 0% on day 26 at concentrations greater than 150 mg/L. Survival and development rates decreased significantly in 100 and 150 mg/L treatments after a longer duration (day 86). Growth was reduced as well, but it was only significant at 150 mg/L. Metamorphosis time and percentage were significantly impacted, but not metamorphosis size. Increased urea fertilizer concentrations had significant histopathological consequences for the skin, gills, liver, kidneys, and striated muscles. Our results suggest that urea fertilizer, at concentrations commonly found in agroecosystems, may pose a serious threat to temperate anuran species inhabiting these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Somaye Vaissi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
| | - Hossein Javanbakht
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
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Safaei-Mahroo B, Ghaffari H, Niamir A. A synoptic review of the Amphibians of Iran: bibliography, taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, conservation status, and identification key to the eggs, larvae, and adults. Zootaxa 2023; 5279:1-112. [PMID: 37518755 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5279.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
This study provides an illustrated account, a comprehensive update of the systematics, and a bibliography of the 15 species of anurans in five families, eight genera; and of the six species of urodeles in two families, four genera in Iran. Bufonidae, with eight species, is the most diverse family; Salamandridae has five species and Ranidae has four species. This study also presents updated identification keys for the eggs, larvae, and metamorphosed amphibians of Iran. We designated specimen NMW 19855.1 as neotype of Pelophylax persicus (Schneider, 1799) comb. nov.. Along with distribution maps obtained from all the reliable localities and museum specimens known at this time, the modelled habitat of species, and for the first time, the National Red List of amphibians based on the IUCN red list categories and criteria. Based on our evaluation we propose to categorize Bufo eichwaldi, Paradactylodon persicus, Neurergus derjugini, and N. kaiseri as Vulnerable at National Red List, and to move Bufotes (Calliopersa) luristanicus, B. (C.) surdus, Firouzophrynus olivaceus, and Rana pseudodalmatina from the category of Least Concern (LC) to Near Threatened (NT). The National Red List of amphibians that we propose has significant implications for endangered species management and conservation. Forty-one percent of amphibian species in Iran are endemic to the country, and more than forty percent of the Iranian amphibians are at risk of extinction. Zagros Mountain forest and Hyrcaniain forests have more than 80% (i.e. 18 species) of the diversity of Iranian amphibians. A considerable amount of scientific literature published on Iranian amphibians in Persian language is not easily accessible to researchers outside Iran. This monograph attempts to remedy the situation and provides broader access to international herpetology. We recognize that taxonomy is always in a state of flux, and the names and synonymies used here reflect our current view.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hanyeh Ghaffari
- Department of Environmental Sciences; Faculty of Natural Resources; University of Kurdistan; Sanandaj; Iran.
| | - Aidin Niamir
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre; Frankfurt am Main; Germany.
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Riesch R, Araújo MS, Bumgarner S, Filla C, Pennafort L, Goins TR, Lucion D, Makowicz AM, Martin RA, Pirroni S, Langerhans RB. Resource competition explains rare cannibalism in the wild in livebearing fishes. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8872. [PMID: 35600676 PMCID: PMC9109233 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rüdiger Riesch
- Department of Biological Sciences Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour Royal Holloway University of London Egham UK
| | - Márcio S. Araújo
- Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Rio Claro Brazil
| | - Stuart Bumgarner
- Department of Biological Sciences North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
| | - Caitlynn Filla
- Department of Biological Sciences North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
- Department of Anthropology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Laura Pennafort
- Department of Biological Sciences Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour Royal Holloway University of London Egham UK
| | - Taylor R. Goins
- Department of Biological Sciences North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
| | - Darlene Lucion
- Department of Biological Sciences Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour Royal Holloway University of London Egham UK
| | - Amber M. Makowicz
- Department of Biological Sciences Florida State University Tallahassee Florida USA
| | - Ryan A. Martin
- Department of Biology Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA
| | - Sara Pirroni
- Department of Biological Sciences Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour Royal Holloway University of London Egham UK
| | - R. Brian Langerhans
- Department of Biological Sciences North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
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Oh D, Kim Y, Yoo S, Kang C. Habitat ephemerality affects the evolution of contrasting growth strategies and cannibalism in anuran larvae. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12172. [PMID: 34603854 PMCID: PMC8445080 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ephemeral streams are challenging environments for tadpoles; thus, adaptive features that increase the survival of these larvae should be favored by natural selection. In this study, we compared the adaptive growth strategies of Bombina orientalis (the oriental fire-bellied toad) tadpoles from ephemeral streams with those of such tadpoles from non-ephemeral streams. Using a common garden experiment, we tested the interactive effects of location (ephemeral vs. non-ephemeral), food availability, and growing density on larval period, weight at metamorphosis, and cannibalism. We found that tadpoles from ephemeral streams underwent a shorter larval period compared with those from non-ephemeral streams but that this difference was contingent on food availability. The observed faster growth is likely to be an adaptive response because tadpoles in ephemeral streams experience more biotic/abiotic stressors, such as desiccation risk and limited resources, compared with those in non-ephemeral streams, with their earlier metamorphosis potentially resulting in survival benefits. As a trade-off for their faster growth, tadpoles from ephemeral streams generally had a lower body weight at metamorphosis compared with those from non-ephemeral streams. We also found lower cannibalism rates among tadpoles from ephemeral streams, which can be attributed to the indirect fitness costs of cannibalizing their kin. Our study demonstrates how ephemeral habitats have affected the evolutionary change in cannibalistic behaviors in anurans and provides additional evidence that natural selection has mediated the evolution of growth strategies of tadpoles in ephemeral streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dogeun Oh
- Department of Biosciences, Mokpo National University, Muan, Jeollanamdo, South Korea
| | - Yongsu Kim
- Department of Biosciences, Mokpo National University, Muan, Jeollanamdo, South Korea
| | - Sohee Yoo
- Department of Biosciences, Mokpo National University, Muan, Jeollanamdo, South Korea
| | - Changku Kang
- Department of Biosciences, Mokpo National University, Muan, Jeollanamdo, South Korea
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Yaghobi S, Vaissi S, Khas ZT, Sharifi M. Influence of Salinity on Predator–Prey Interactions between the Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and Larvae of the Green Toad (Bufotes variabilis). RUSS J ECOL+ 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s1067413620030157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Salehi T, Akmali V, Sharifi M. The soft-release of captive-born Kaiser’s Mountain Newt Neurergus kaiseri (Amphibia: Caudata) into a highland stream, western Iran. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2019. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.4981.11.10.14259-14267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Captive breeding and reintroduction programs are important conservation tools and are used for increasing the number of plant and animal species worldwide. The endemic Kaiser’s Mountain Newt Neurergus kaiseri is listed as Vulnerable on the Red List by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is amended to Appendix I of the Convention of International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES). In the present study, in order to learn about the survival ability of captive-born newts of N. kaiseri, we conducted a trial translocation of 15 two-year-old captive-born N. kaiseri into the highland stream in Sartakht Village, western Iran. The survival rate of these newts were determined in two stages, involving early acclimatization in mesh bags and direct release in a highland brook. In 12 surveys to the translocation site, a total of 86 individuals were identified during spring and summer. The average survival rate during the acclimatizing phase was 98 ± 0.04 %, while an average survival rate of 12 ± 0.04 % was obtained when the newts were released in the brook. Applying an average diurnal detection probability obtained for the Yellow Spotted Mountain Newt Neurergus derjugini, the overall survival rate in September when newts began the autumn withdrawal was 13%. These findings demonstrate that captive-born N. kaiseri released into the wild in controlled conditions can survive during spring and summer and provide information for future reintroduction plan of this species.
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