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Wunderlich S, Griffiths T, Baines F. UVB-emitting LEDs for reptile lighting: Identifying the risks of nonsolar UV spectra. Zoo Biol 2024; 43:61-74. [PMID: 37870081 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
UVB lamps are used to provide reptiles housed indoors with the UV radiation necessary to synthesize vitamin D3 in their skin. Since 2019, UVB-LED lamps have been on sale for use in reptile husbandry. We performed spectral analysis and mapped the UV irradiance for 18 of these lamps. The positive benefits of UVB-LED lamps over traditional products include greater energy efficiency, freedom from mercury and easy installation without external ballasts. However, the spectra of all the UVB-LED lamps tested had little similarity to the solar UV spectrum. Some lamps emitted short-wavelength, non-terrestrial, radiation known to cause acute photo-kerato-conjunctivitis; we report one case. All lamps were lacking significant output in the range 315-335 nm, essential for natural self-regulation of cutaneous vitamin D3 synthesis, preventing overproduction. We describe a possible risk of serious hypervitaminosis D based on our spectral analysis. We call for long-term animal studies to assess this risk, in which the reptiles under these lamps are exposed to species-appropriate UV index levels according to their Ferguson Zone allocation and serum levels of vitamin D3 and 25(OH)D3 monitored. Spectral modifications of the lamps to make the spectrum more like sunlight may be an essential way of mitigating this risk.
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Downie AT, Wu NC, Cramp RL, Franklin CE. Sublethal consequences of ultraviolet radiation exposure on vertebrates: Synthesis through meta-analysis. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:6620-6634. [PMID: 37366045 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16848] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun is a natural daytime stressor for vertebrates in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. UVR effects on the physiology of vertebrates manifest at the cellular level, but have bottom-up effects at the tissue level and on whole-animal performance and behaviours. Climate change and habitat loss (i.e. loss of shelter from UVR) could interact with and exacerbate the genotoxic and cytotoxic impacts of UVR on vertebrates. Therefore, it is important to understand the range and magnitude of effects that UVR can have on a diversity of physiological metrics, and how these may be shaped by taxa, life stage or geographical range in the major vertebrate groups. Using a meta-analytical approach, we used 895 observations from 47 different vertebrate species (fish, amphibian, reptile and bird), and 51 physiological metrics (i.e. cellular, tissue and whole-animal metrics), across 73 independent studies, to elucidate the general patterns of UVR effects on vertebrate physiology. We found that while UVR's impacts on vertebrates are generally negative, fish and amphibians were the most susceptible taxa, adult and larvae were the most susceptible life stages, and animals inhabiting temperate and tropical latitudes were the most susceptible to UVR stress. This information is critical to further our understanding of the adaptive capacity of vulnerable taxon to UVR stress, and the wide-spread sublethal physiological effects of UVR on vertebrates, such as DNA damage and cellular stress, which may translate up to impaired growth and locomotor performance. These impairments to individual fitness highlighted by our study may potentially cause disruptions at the ecosystem scale, especially if the effects of this pervasive diurnal stressor are exacerbated by climate change and reduced refuge due to habitat loss and degradation. Therefore, conservation of habitats that provide refuge to UVR stress will be critical to mitigate stress from this pervasive daytime stressor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam T Downie
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicholas C Wu
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rebecca L Cramp
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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Claunch NM, Goodman CM, Kluever BM, Barve N, Guralnick RP, Romagosa CM. Commonly collected thermal performance data can inform species distributions in a data-limited invader. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15880. [PMID: 37741922 PMCID: PMC10517990 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43128-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Predicting potential distributions of species in new areas is challenging. Physiological data can improve interpretation of predicted distributions and can be used in directed distribution models. Nonnative species provide useful case studies. Panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) are native to Madagascar and have established populations in Florida, USA, but standard correlative distribution modeling predicts no suitable habitat for F. pardalis there. We evaluated commonly collected thermal traits- thermal performance, tolerance, and preference-of F. pardalis and the acclimatization potential of these traits during exposure to naturally-occurring environmental conditions in North Central Florida. Though we observed temperature-dependent thermal performance, chameleons maintained similar thermal limits, performance, and preferences across seasons, despite long-term exposure to cool temperatures. Using the physiological data collected, we developed distribution models that varied in restriction: time-dependent exposure near and below critical thermal minima, predicted activity windows, and predicted performance thresholds. Our application of commonly collected physiological data improved interpretations on potential distributions of F. pardalis, compared with correlative distribution modeling approaches that predicted no suitable area in Florida. These straightforward approaches can be applied to other species with existing physiological data or after brief experiments on a limited number of individuals, as demonstrated here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie M Claunch
- USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Florida Field Station, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Colin M Goodman
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Bryan M Kluever
- USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Florida Field Station, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Narayani Barve
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Robert P Guralnick
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Christina M Romagosa
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Lundsgaard NU, Cramp RL, Franklin CE. Ultraviolet-B irradiance and cumulative dose combine to determine performance and survival. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2021; 222:112276. [PMID: 34358884 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Despite decades of research, the role of elevated solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UVBR; 280-315 nm) in shaping amphibian populations remains ambiguous. These difficulties stem partly from a poor understanding of which parameters of UVBR exposure - dose, irradiance, and time interval - determine UVBR exposure health risk, and the potentially erroneous assumption that effects are proportional to the dose of exposure, irrespective of the administered regime (Bunsen-Roscoe Law of Reciprocity; BRL). We tested if the BRL holds with respect to UVBR-induced physiological effects in amphibians by acutely exposing tadpoles of the Australian green tree frog (Litoria caerulea) to a combination of different UVBR irradiances and doses in a fully factorial experiment. The BRL was invalid across all metrics assessed, with UVBR irradiance influencing the effects of a given dose on growth, coloration and burst swimming performance of larvae. We demonstrated some of the first empirical evidence for beneficial physiological effects of UVBR exposure in a larval amphibian, with improvements in growth, burst swimming performance and survival at the highest UVBR doses, contrary to hypotheses. Our findings demonstrate the species-specific nature of amphibian responses to UVBR, and the importance of UVBR irradiance in influencing the long-term physiological effects of a given dose of radiation. This work enhances our understanding of which parameters of complex UVBR exposures determine amphibian health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niclas U Lundsgaard
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
| | - Rebecca L Cramp
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
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