Department of Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia.
Published: December 2021
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
Global warming represents a severe threat to existing ecosystems, especially for anuran tadpoles who encounter significant fluctuations in their habitats. Decreasing water levels in permanent and temporary water bodies is a significant risk for larval survival or fitness. On the other hand, the natural environment of amphibians is extremely polluted by various xenobiotics. This study evaluated how pre-exposure of Bombina variegata tadpoles to chronic environmental stress (desiccation) modulates the biochemical response of juvenile individuals to following acute chemical stressor (pesticide deltamethrin). Our results demonstrated that individually applied pesticide changed the thiol and lipid status of the treated juveniles but animals subjected solely to desiccation pressure were more tolerant to free radicals and showed no induction of lipid peroxidation. Comparison of juveniles exposed to deltamethrin revealed that desiccation pretreatment during the larval stage of development modified cellular protection in the juveniles. Higher activities of CAT, GSH-Px and GR were recorded in the pre-exposed group, as well as a lower degree of lipid peroxidation relative to the group that was not pre-exposed to low water stress. Pre-desiccated groups displayed the greatest range of coordination of investigated antioxidant parameters, supported by Pearson's correlations. Activation of the GSH-redox system is a significant marker in juveniles against stress caused by desiccation and a chemical stressor. The stressful environment experienced during tadpole development produced an adaptive reaction to subsequent exposure to another stressor in juveniles. To develop relevant management and conservation strategies, more studies of the interactive effects of environmental and chemical stressors are necessary.
Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Amphibian larvae inhabiting temporary ponds often exhibit the capacity to accelerate development and undergo metamorphosis in challenging conditions like desiccation. However, not all species exhibit this ability, the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) is one such example. The underlying mechanisms behind the inability to accelerate development under desiccation remain largely unexplored.
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Museu Nacional; Departamento de Vertebrados; Quinta da Boa Vista; So Cristvo; 20940-040 Rio de Janeiro; RJ; Brasil.
The Museu Nacional, in Rio de Janeiro, is the oldest scientific institution in Brazil, created by a decree of the Regent Prince and future King D. Joo VI on 06 June 1818. In particular, the herpetological collection dates from the early 1870s and were studied by the first Brazilian herpetologists, namely Alpio de Miranda Ribeiro (18741934) and Adolpho Lutz (18551940).
Habitat anthropization negatively impacts global biodiversity, but some species show adaptive life-history responses, like increased reproduction, to cope with these changes.
The study focused on the yellow-bellied toad and utilized a large dataset of over 21,000 individuals from various European populations to examine the effects of anthropogenic environments on their survival and reproduction.
Results indicated that while adult toads had lower survival and shorter lifespans in human-modified habitats, their increased reproductive output compensated for these losses, helping to maintain stable population growth rates despite habitat alterations.
