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Li K, Li J, Luo S, Chai L. Cogrowth advantage: Intestinal microbiota analysis of Bufo gargarizans and Rana chensinensis. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2025; 299:111764. [PMID: 39396615 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.111764] [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: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 10/10/2024] [Accepted: 10/10/2024] [Indexed: 10/15/2024]
Abstract
Intestinal microbiota has profound effects on host health and adaptation to environmental changes. Bufo gargarizans and Rana chensinensis coexist in the same habitat and have been paid much attention to economically because of their medicinal value. To date, no comparison of differences between single and mixed populations has been made. In our study, differences in the structure and function of the intestinal microbial of B. gargarizans and R. chensinensis in environments of single-species and mixed-species growth were investigated by high-throughput sequencing. Our results suggest that the cogrowth of B. gargarizans and R. chensinensis could lead to the decrease of the abundance of pathogenic bacteria (Bosea) and the introduction or increase of beneficial bacteria (Kaistia, Cetobacterium and Erysipelatoclostridium). The Tax4Fun-based functional predictions revealed that the level of pathways involved in the metabolism of R. chensinensis in mixed-species aquaria is greatly up-regulated. This study provides useful information for ecologists, ecosystem policy makers and wildlife conservationists to promote more effective conservation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyue Li
- School of Water and Environment, Chang' an University, Xi'an 710054, China; College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Jiayi Li
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Shuangyan Luo
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Lihong Chai
- School of Water and Environment, Chang' an University, Xi'an 710054, China; Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effect in Arid Region of Ministry of Education, Chang' an University, Xi'an 710054, China.
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2
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Zamora‐Camacho FJ, Aragón P. Increased Temperature and Exposure to Ammonium Alter the Life Cycle of an Anuran Species. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70685. [PMID: 39629171 PMCID: PMC11612019 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2024] [Revised: 11/11/2024] [Accepted: 11/21/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Amphibian populations are undergoing a major recession worldwide, likely triggered by global change components such as the global warming and pollutants, among which agrochemicals, in general, and fertilizers, in particular, play a central role given their relevance in agriculture. Potential synergies among these stressors could maximize their individual effects. In this work, we investigated the consequences of a controlled chronic exposure to increased temperature and a sublethal dose of ammonium during the larval stage of Pelophylax perezi frogs on the growth, development, and locomotor performance of tadpoles and the metamorphs they gave rise to. To that end, tadpoles were reared either in heated or nonheated tanks, with or without ammonium added. The parents of these tadpoles came from either a pine grove or an agrosystem. Survival was reduced in agrosystem tadpoles reared with ammonium. Increased temperature potentiated tadpole growth while giving way to smaller metamorphs. Faster growth could be a consequence of increased metabolism, whereas the smaller size could follow an accelerated development and metamorphosis, which reduced the growth period. Also, swimming speed was greater in tadpoles reared in heated tanks, while jumping distance was greater in metamorphs reared in nonheated tanks. The effects of temperature were more marked in agrosystem than in pine grove individuals, which could mirror reduced adaptability. Thus, the ability to withstand the effects of these stressors was lower in agrosystem tadpoles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Zamora‐Camacho
- Department of Biogeography and Global ChangeMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN‐CSIC)MadridSpain
- Department of Biology of Organisms and SystemsUniversity of OviedoOviedoSpain
| | - Pedro Aragón
- Department of Biogeography and Global ChangeMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN‐CSIC)MadridSpain
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3
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Rohonczy J, Forbes MR, Gilroy ÈAM, Carpenter DJ, Young SD, Morrill A, Brinovcar C, De Silva AO, Bartlett AJ, Robinson SA. Effects of perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids on developmental, physiological, and immunological measures in northern leopard frog tadpoles. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 365:143333. [PMID: 39271078 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143333] [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: 07/25/2024] [Revised: 09/06/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
The chronic toxicity of short chain perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs), such as perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), are relatively understudied despite the increasing detection of these compounds in the environment. We investigated the chronic toxicity and bioconcentration of PFBS and PFHxS using northern leopard frog (Rana [Lithobates] pipiens) tadpoles. We exposed Gosner stage (GS) 25 tadpoles to either PFBS or PFHxS at nominal concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 μg/L until metamorphosis (GS42). We then assessed tadpole growth, development, stress, and immune metrics, and measured fatty acid (FA) composition and PFSA concentrations in liver and whole-body tissues. Tadpole growth and development measures were relatively unaffected by PFSA exposure. However, tadpoles exposed to 1000 μg/L PFBS or PFHxS had significantly increased hepatosomatic indexes (HSI) relative to controls. Further, tadpoles from the 1000 μg/L PFHxS treatment had altered FA profiles relative to controls, with increased total FAs, saturated FAs, monounsaturated FAs, and omega-6 polyunsaturated FAs. In addition, tadpoles from the 1000 μg/L PFHxS treatment had a higher probability of waterborne corticosterone detection. These results suggest that PFBS and PFHxS influence the hepatic health of tadpoles, and that PFHxS may alter lipid metabolism in tadpoles. We also observed a higher probability of tadpoles being phenotypically female after exposure to an environmentally relevant concentration (0.1 μg/L) of PFHxS, suggesting that PFHxS may exert endocrine disrupting effects on tadpoles during early development. The measured bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for both compounds were ≤10 L kg-1 wet weight, suggesting low bioconcentration potential for PFBS and PFHxS in tadpoles. Many of the significant effects observed in this study occurred at concentrations several orders of magnitude above those measured in the environment; however, our work shows effects of PFSAs exposure on amphibians and provides essential information for ecological risk assessments of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Rohonczy
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Mark R Forbes
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Ève A M Gilroy
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - David J Carpenter
- Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Sarah D Young
- Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - André Morrill
- Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Cassandra Brinovcar
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Amila O De Silva
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Adrienne J Bartlett
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Stacey A Robinson
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada; Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada.
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4
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Fu H, Ge Y, Liu X, Deng S, Li J, Tan P, Yang Y, Wu Z. Exposure to the environmental pollutant chlorpyrifos induces hepatic toxicity through activation of the JAK/STAT and MAPK pathways. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 928:171711. [PMID: 38494025 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171711] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Chlorpyrifos (CHP) is an inexpensive highly effective organophosphate insecticide used worldwide. The unguided and excessive use of CHP by farmers has led to its significant accumulation in crops as well as contamination of water sources, causing health problems for humans and animals. Therefore, this study evaluated the toxicological effects of exposure to the environmental pollutant CHP at low, medium, and high (2.5, 5, and 10 mg·kg-1 BW) levels on rat liver by examining antioxidant levels, inflammation, and apoptosis based on the no observed adverse effect levels (NOAEL) (1 mg·kg-1 BW) and the CHP dose that does not cause any visual symptoms (5 mg·kg-1 BW). Furthermore, the involvement of the JAK/STAT and MAPK pathways in CHP-induced toxic effects was identified. The relationship between the expression levels of key proteins (p-JAK/JAK, p-STAT/STAT, p-JNK/JNK, p-P38/P38, and p-ERK/ERK) in the pathways and changes in the expression of markers associated with inflammation [inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), chemokines (GCLC and GCLM), and inflammatory signaling pathways (NF-кB, TLR2, TLR4, NLRP3, ASC, MyD88, IFN-γ, and iNOS)] and apoptosis [Bad, Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase3, Caspase9, and the cleavage substrate of Caspase PARP1] were also determined. The results suggest that CHP exposure disrupts liver function and activates the JAK/STAT and MAPK pathways via oxidative stress, exacerbating inflammation and apoptosis. Meanwhile, the JAK/STAT and MAPK pathways are involved in CHP-induced hepatotoxicity. These findings provide a novel direction for effective prevention and amelioration of health problems caused by CHP abuse in agriculture and households.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyang Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yao Ge
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Siwei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Peng Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Ying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zhenlong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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Song J, Huang F, Ma K, Ding R, Tan K, Lv D, Soyano K, Zhao K. Bifenthrin induces changes in clinical poisoning symptoms, oxidative stress, DNA damage, histological characteristics, and transcriptome in Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) larvae. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172041. [PMID: 38554955 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172041] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Bifenthrin (BF) is a broad-spectrum insecticide that has gained widespread use due to its high effectiveness. However, there is limited research on the potential toxic effects of bifenthrin pollution on amphibians. This study aimed to investigate the 50 % lethal concentration (LC50) and safety concentration of Chinese giant salamanders (CGS) exposed to BF (at 0, 6.25,12.5,25 and 50 μg/L BF) for 96 h. Subsequently, CGS were exposed to BF (at 0, 0.04, and 4 μg/L BF) for one week to investigate its toxic effects. Clinical poisoning symptoms, liver pathology, oxidative stress factors, DNA damage, and transcriptome differences were observed and analyzed. The results indicate that exposure to BF at 4 μg/L significantly decreased the adenosine-triphosphate (ATP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) contents in the brain, liver, and kidney of CGS. Additionally, the study found that the malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) contents were increased. The liver tissue exhibited significant inflammatory reactions and structural malformations. RNA-seq analysis of the liver showed that BF caused abnormal antioxidant indices of CGS. This affected molecular function genes such as catalytic activity, ATP-dependent activity, metabolic processes, signaling and immune system processes, behavior, and detoxification, which were significantly upregulated, resulting in the differential genes significantly enriched in the calcium signaling pathway, PPARα signaling pathway and NF-kB signaling pathway. The results suggest that BF induces the abnormal production of free radicals, which overwhelms the body's self-defense system, leading to varying degrees of oxidative stress. This can result in oxidative damage, DNA damage, abnormal lipid metabolism, autoimmune diseases, clinical poisoning symptoms, and tissue inflammation. This work provides a theoretical basis for the rational application of bifenthrin and environmental risk assessment, as well as scientific guidance for the conservation of amphibian populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Song
- College of Life Science, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China; The Belt and Road Model International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in Basins of Anhui Province, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China; Institute for East China Sea Research, Organization for Marine Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 851-2213, Japan
| | - Fengyun Huang
- College of Life Science, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China; The Belt and Road Model International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in Basins of Anhui Province, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China
| | - Kun Ma
- College of Life Science, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China; The Belt and Road Model International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in Basins of Anhui Province, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China
| | - Rui Ding
- College of Life Science, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China; The Belt and Road Model International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in Basins of Anhui Province, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China
| | - Kai Tan
- College of Life Science, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China; The Belt and Road Model International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in Basins of Anhui Province, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China
| | - Dan Lv
- College of Life Science, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China
| | - Kiyoshi Soyano
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan; Institute for East China Sea Research, Organization for Marine Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 851-2213, Japan
| | - Kai Zhao
- College of Life Science, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China; The Belt and Road Model International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in Basins of Anhui Province, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China
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6
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Van Meter RJ, Glinski DA, Wanat JJ, Thomas Purucker S, Matthew Henderson W. Validation of Salamander Dermal Mucus Swabs as a Novel, Nonlethal Approach for Amphibian Metabolomics and Glutathione Analysis Following Pesticide Exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:1126-1137. [PMID: 38483077 PMCID: PMC11420827 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5848] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
Evaluating biomarkers of stress in amphibians is critical to conservation, yet current techniques are often destructive and/or time-consuming, which limits ease of use. In the present study, we validate the use of dermal swabs in spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) for biochemical profiling, as well as glutathione (GSH) stress response following pesticide exposure. Thirty-three purchased spotted salamanders were acclimated to laboratory conditions at Washington College (Chestertown, MD, USA) for 4 weeks. Following acclimation, salamanders were randomly sorted into three groups for an 8-h pesticide exposure on soil: control with no pesticide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), or chlorpyrifos. Before and after exposure, mucus samples were obtained by gently rubbing a polyester-tipped swab 50 times across the ventral and dorsal surfaces. Salamanders were humanely euthanized and dissected to remove the brain for acetylcholinesterase and liver for GSH and hepatic metabolome analyses, and a whole-body tissue homogenate was used for pesticide quantification. Levels of GSH were present in lower quantities on dermal swabs relative to liver tissues for chlorpyrifos, 2,4-D, and control treatments. However, 2,4-D exposures demonstrated a large effect size increase for GSH levels in livers (Cohen's d = 0.925, p = 0.036). Other GSH increases were statistically insignificant, and effect sizes were characterized as small for 2,4-D mucosal swabs (d = 0.36), medium for chlorpyrifos mucosal swabs (d = 0.713), and negligible for chlorpyrifos liver levels (d = 0.012). The metabolomics analyses indicated that the urea cycle, alanine, and glutamate metabolism biological pathways were perturbed by both sets of pesticide exposures. Obtaining mucus samples through dermal swabbing in amphibians is a viable technique for evaluating health in these imperiled taxa. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1126-1137. © 2024 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin J Van Meter
- Biology and Environmental Science & Studies, Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland, USA
| | - Donna A Glinski
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Jennifer J Wanat
- Biology and Environmental Science & Studies, Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland, USA
| | - S Thomas Purucker
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina
| | - W Matthew Henderson
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, Georgia, USA
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7
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Mingo V, Foudoulakis M, Wheeler JR. Mechanistic modelling of amphibian body burdens after dermal uptake of pesticides from soil. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 346:123614. [PMID: 38387548 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123614] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Amphibians are currently considered to be covered by pesticide Environmental Risk Assessment schemes by surrogacy assumptions of exposure and susceptibility based on typical laboratory test species such as fish, mammals, and birds. While multiple reviews have shown for this approach to be adequate in the case of aquatic stages, the same cannot be definitively stated for terrestrial stages. Concerns have risen that exposure of amphibians is likely to be highly influenced by dermal absorption, primarily due to the high permeability of their skin and the lack of a protective layer, such as fur or feathers. It is thus hypothesized that dermal uptake could be a significant route of exposure. Consequently, it is necessary to determine the relative importance of different exposure routes that might affect the integrated toxicity outcome for terrestrial amphibian life-stages. Here, a one-compartment Toxicokinetic model was derived and tested using a publicly available dataset containing relevant exposure and uptake information for juvenile anurans exposed to 13 different pesticides. Modelled body burdens were then compared to measured burdens for a total of 815 individuals. Overall, a good concordance between modelled and measured values was observed, with the predicted and measured body burdens differing by a factor of 2 on average (overall R2 of 0.80 and correlation coefficient of 0.89), suggesting good predictivity of the model. Accordingly, the model predicts realistic body burdens for a variety of frog and toad species, and overall, for anurans. As the model includes rehydration (implicit in the evaluated studies) but currently does not account for metabolism, it can be seen as a worst-case assessment. We suggest toxicokinetic models, such as the one here presented, could be used to characterize dermal exposure in amphibians, screen for pesticides of concern, and prioritize risk assessment efforts, whilst reducing the need for de novo vertebrate testing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience, Bergen op Zoom, North Brabant, the Netherlands
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Awkerman JA, Glinski DA, Henderson WM, Van Meter R, Purucker ST. Framework for multi-stressor physiological response evaluation in amphibian risk assessment and conservation. Front Ecol Evol 2024; 12:1-16. [PMID: 39679000 PMCID: PMC11636185 DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2024.1336747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Controlled laboratory experiments are often performed on amphibians to establish causality between stressor presence and an adverse outcome. However, in the field, identification of lab-generated biomarkers from single stressors and the interactions of multiple impacts are difficult to discern in an ecological context. The ubiquity of some pesticides and anthropogenic contaminants results in potentially cryptic sublethal effects or synergistic effects among multiple stressors. Although biochemical pathways regulating physiological responses to toxic stressors are often well-conserved among vertebrates, different exposure regimes and life stage vulnerabilities can yield variable ecological risk among species. Here we examine stress-related biomarkers, highlight endpoints commonly linked to apical effects, and discuss differences in ontogeny and ecology that could limit interpretation of biomarkers across species. Further we identify promising field-based physiological measures indicative of potential impacts to health and development of amphibians that could be useful to anuran conservation. We outline the physiological responses to common stressors in the context of altered functional pathways, presenting useful stage-specific endpoints for anuran species, and discussing multi-stressor vulnerability in the larger framework of amphibian life history and ecology. This overview identifies points of physiological, ecological, and demographic vulnerability to provide context in evaluating the multiple stressors impacting amphibian populations worldwide for strategic conservation planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill A. Awkerman
- Center for Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, FL, United States
| | - Donna A. Glinski
- Center for Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, United States
| | - W. Matthew Henderson
- Center for Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Robin Van Meter
- Environmental Science and Studies, Washington College, Chestertown, MD, United States
| | - S. Thomas Purucker
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, United States
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Dhuldhaj UP, Singh R, Singh VK. Pesticide contamination in agro-ecosystems: toxicity, impacts, and bio-based management strategies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:9243-9270. [PMID: 36456675 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24381-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Continuous rise in application of pesticides in the agro-ecosystems in order to ensure food supply to the ever-growing population is of greater concern to the human health and the environment. Once entered into the agro-ecosystem, the fate and transport of pesticides is determined largely by the nature of pesticides and the soil attributes, in addition to the soil-inhabiting microbes, fauna, and flora. Changes in the soil microbiological actions, soil properties, and enzymatic activities resulting from pesticide applications are the important factors substantially affecting the soil productivity. Disturbances in the microbial community composition may lead to the considerable perturbations in cycling of major nutrients, metals, and subsequent uptake by plants. Indiscriminate applications are linked with the accumulation of pesticides in plant-based foods, feeds, and animal products. Furthermore, rapid increase in the application of pesticides having long half-life has also been reported to contaminate the nearby aquatic environments and accumulation in the plants, animals, and microbes surviving there. To circumvent the negative consequences of pesticide application, multitude of techniques falling in physical, chemical, and biological categories are presented by different investigators. In the present study, important findings pertaining to the pesticide contamination in cultivated agricultural soils; toxicity on soil microbes, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates; effects on soil characteristics; and alleviation of toxicity by bio-based management approaches have been thoroughly reviewed. With the help of bibliometric analysis, thematic evolution and research trends on the bioremediation of pesticides in the agro-ecosystems have also been highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umesh Pravin Dhuldhaj
- School of Life Sciences, Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded, 431606, India
| | - Rishikesh Singh
- Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Vipin Kumar Singh
- Department of Botany, K. S. Saket P. G. College, (Affiliated to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University), Ayodhya, 224123, India.
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10
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Purucker ST, Snyder MN, Glinski DA, Van Meter RJ, Garber K, Chelsvig EA, Cyterski MJ, Sinnathamby S, Paulukonis EA, Henderson WM. Estimating dermal contact soil exposure for amphibians. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2023; 19:9-16. [PMID: 35412009 PMCID: PMC11429039 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Chemical exposure estimation through the dermal route is an underemphasized area of ecological risk assessment for terrestrial animals. Currently, there are efforts to create exposure models to estimate doses from this pathway for use in ecological risk assessment. One significant limitation has been insufficient published data to characterize exposure and to support the selection and parameterization of appropriate models, particularly for amphibians in terrestrial habitats. Recent publications measuring pesticide doses to terrestrial-phase amphibians have begun to rectify this situation. We collated and summarized available measurements of terrestrial amphibian dermal exposure to pesticides from 11 studies in which researchers measured tissue concentrations associated with known pesticide experimental application rates. This data set included tissue concentrations in 11 amphibian species and 14 different pesticides. We then compared the results of two screening exposure models that differed based on surface area scaling approaches as a function of body weight (one based on birds as surrogates for amphibians and another amphibian-specific) to the measured tissue residue concentrations. We define a false-negative rate for each screening model as the proportion of amphibians for which the predicted concentration is less than the observed concentration (i.e., underestimate), contrary to the intent of screening models, which are intended to have a bias for higher exposure concentrations. The screening model that uses birds as surrogates did not have any instances where estimated expected avian doses were less than measured amphibian body burdens. When using the amphibian-specific exposure model that corrected for differences between avian and amphibian surface area, measured concentrations were greater than model estimates for 11.3% of the 1158 comparisons. The database of measured pesticide concentrations in terrestrial amphibians is provided for use in calculating bioconcentration factors and for future amphibian dermal exposure model development. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:9-16. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Kristina Garber
- USEPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Emma A. Chelsvig
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Sumathy Sinnathamby
- USEPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Seim RF, Glinski DA, Lavelle CM, Awkerman JA, Hemmer BL, Harris P, Raimondo S, Snyder MN, Acrey BW, Purucker ST, MacMillan DK, Brennan AA, Henderson WM. Using metabolomic profiling to inform use of surrogate species in ecological risk assessment practices. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2022; 41:100947. [PMID: 34894529 PMCID: PMC8935489 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100947] [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: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The U.S. EPA frequently uses avian or fish toxicity data to set protective standards for amphibians in ecological risk assessments. However, this approach does not always adequately represent aquatic-dwelling and terrestrial-phase amphibian exposure data. For instance, it is accepted that early life stage tests for fish are typically sensitive enough to protect larval amphibians, however, metamorphosis from tadpole to a terrestrial-phase adult relies on endocrine cues that are less prevalent in fish but essential for amphibian life stage transitions. These differences suggest that more robust approaches are needed to adequately elucidate the impacts of pesticide exposure in amphibians across critical life stages. Therefore, in the current study, methodology is presented that can be applied to link the perturbations in the metabolomic response of larval zebrafish (Danio rerio), a surrogate species frequently used in ecotoxicological studies, to those of African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) tadpoles following exposure to three high-use pesticides, bifenthrin, chlorothalonil, or trifluralin. Generally, D. rerio exhibited greater metabolic perturbations in both number and magnitude across the pesticide exposures as opposed to X. laevis. This suggests that screening ecological risk assessment surrogate toxicity data would sufficiently protect amphibians at the single life stage studied but care needs to be taken to understand the suite of metabolic requirements of each developing species. Ultimately, methodology presented, and data gathered herein will help inform the applicability of metabolomic profiling in establishing the risk pesticide exposure poses to amphibians and potentially other non-target species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland F Seim
- Grantee to the U.S. EPA via Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Donna A Glinski
- NRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow to the U.S. EPA, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | | | | | | | - Peggy Harris
- U.S. EPA, ORD, CEMM, GEMMD, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA
| | | | - Marcía N Snyder
- Grantee to the U.S. EPA via Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Athens, GA 30605, USA
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Van Meter RJ, Glinski DA, Purucker ST, Henderson WM. Induced Hepatic Glutathione and Metabolomic Alterations Following Mixed Pesticide and Fertilizer Exposures in Juvenile Leopard Frogs (Lithobates sphenocephala). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:122-133. [PMID: 34967044 PMCID: PMC8935487 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The increasing use of agrochemicals, alone and in combination, has been implicated as a potential causative factor in the decline of amphibians worldwide. Fertilizers and pesticides are frequently combined into single-use tank mixtures for agricultural applications to decrease costs while meeting the food demands of a growing human population. Limited data are available on the effects of increased nitrogen levels in nontarget species, such as amphibians, and therefore investigating alterations in the nitrogen cycle and its impacts on amphibians needs to be considered in best management practices going forward. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the impact of fertilizer (urea) and herbicide (atrazine and/or alachlor) tank mixtures on the hepatic metabolome of juvenile leopard frogs as well as to investigate alterations in oxidative stress by relating these changes to glutathione (GSH) levels. Herbicide exposure only moderately increased this parameter in amphibians, however, urea alone and in combination with either atrazine or alachlor statistically elevated GSH levels. Interestingly, urea also inhibited pesticide uptake: calculated bioconcentration factors were greatly decreased for atrazine and alachlor when urea was present in the exposure mixture. Metabolomic profiling identified fluxes in hepatic metabolites that are involved in GSH and carbohydrate metabolic processes as well as altered intermediates in the urea cycle. Ultimately, understanding the biological impacts of nitrogenous fertilizers alone and in combination with pesticide exposure will inform best management practices to conserve declining amphibian populations worldwide. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:122-133. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - S Thomas Purucker
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - W Matthew Henderson
- Center for Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, Georgia, USA
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