TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of ultraviolet radiation on toad early life stages
AU - Little, Edward E.
AU - Calfee, Robin D.
AU - Fabacher, David L.
AU - Carey, Cynthia
AU - Blazer, Vicki S.
AU - Middleton, Elizabeth M.
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - Background: Exposure to harmful levels of ultraviolet-B radiation (UVB), a component of solar radiation, has been suggested as a potential cause of amphibian declines. Methods: We measured solar radiation (UVB, ultraviolet-A, and visible) wavebands in breeding ponds of Bufo boreas (boreal toad, a montane species that has undergone severe population declines) and Bufo woodhousii (Woodhouse's toad, a plains toad that has not experienced declines) and examined tolerances of these species to simulated solar UVB exposures in the laboratory. Results: We found larvae of both species to be tolerant of simulated solar UVB in excess of solar UVB levels observed in their breeding ponds. B. boreas tadpoles were more tolerant of simulated solar UVB exposure than B. woodhousii tadpoles, possibly because of greater amounts of photoprotective melanin in B. boreas skin. Conclusions: UVB levels observed in B. boreas habitats do not currently appear to constitute a threat to the survival of these animals; however, long-term (>1 month) exposure to UVB levels comparable to levels associated with the water interface appears to reduce survival in B. woodhousii tadpoles. Therefore, future increases in surface and water column UVB radiation in bufonid habitats might pose significant survival risks to B. boreas or B. woodhousii populations.
AB - Background: Exposure to harmful levels of ultraviolet-B radiation (UVB), a component of solar radiation, has been suggested as a potential cause of amphibian declines. Methods: We measured solar radiation (UVB, ultraviolet-A, and visible) wavebands in breeding ponds of Bufo boreas (boreal toad, a montane species that has undergone severe population declines) and Bufo woodhousii (Woodhouse's toad, a plains toad that has not experienced declines) and examined tolerances of these species to simulated solar UVB exposures in the laboratory. Results: We found larvae of both species to be tolerant of simulated solar UVB in excess of solar UVB levels observed in their breeding ponds. B. boreas tadpoles were more tolerant of simulated solar UVB exposure than B. woodhousii tadpoles, possibly because of greater amounts of photoprotective melanin in B. boreas skin. Conclusions: UVB levels observed in B. boreas habitats do not currently appear to constitute a threat to the survival of these animals; however, long-term (>1 month) exposure to UVB levels comparable to levels associated with the water interface appears to reduce survival in B. woodhousii tadpoles. Therefore, future increases in surface and water column UVB radiation in bufonid habitats might pose significant survival risks to B. boreas or B. woodhousii populations.
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U2 - 10.1065/espr2002.06.123
DO - 10.1065/espr2002.06.123
M3 - Article
C2 - 12846377
AN - SCOPUS:0038242824
SN - 0944-1344
VL - 10
SP - 167
EP - 172
JO - Environmental Science and Pollution Research
JF - Environmental Science and Pollution Research
IS - 3
ER -