TY - JOUR
T1 - Sublethal effects of nitrite on eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) and wood frog (Rana sylvatica) embryos and larvae
T2 - Implications for field populations
AU - Griffis-Kyle, Kerry L.
PY - 2007/3
Y1 - 2007/3
N2 - Ephemeral pools, which can have high animal biomass and low dissolved oxygen, may be prone to nitrite accumulation. As such, it is important to understand how exposure to nitrite might affect development and growth of amphibians that breed in these ephemeral pools. Wood frog (Rana sylvatica) and eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) embryos and tadpoles and young larvae were exposed to elevated concentrations of nitrite derived from sodium nitrite: 0, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.1, 4.6, and 6.1 mg l-1 NO 2-N. Increasing nitrite exposure slowed embryonic and larval development in both the eastern tiger salamander and the wood frog, reduced growth in tiger salamander embryos and larvae, and delayed metamorphosis in the wood frog. At concentrations less than 2 mg l-1 NO2-N nitrite delayed hatching, and at concentrations above 2 mg l-1 time to hatching decreased causing more individuals to hatch at less developed stages. Nitrite also increased asynchrony in tiger salamander hatching. The sublethal effects of nitrite on amphibian development, growth and hatching could have serious repercussions on amphibian fitness in ephemeral environments. Potential increases in mortality on field populations caused by sublethal effects of nitrite are discussed.
AB - Ephemeral pools, which can have high animal biomass and low dissolved oxygen, may be prone to nitrite accumulation. As such, it is important to understand how exposure to nitrite might affect development and growth of amphibians that breed in these ephemeral pools. Wood frog (Rana sylvatica) and eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) embryos and tadpoles and young larvae were exposed to elevated concentrations of nitrite derived from sodium nitrite: 0, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.1, 4.6, and 6.1 mg l-1 NO 2-N. Increasing nitrite exposure slowed embryonic and larval development in both the eastern tiger salamander and the wood frog, reduced growth in tiger salamander embryos and larvae, and delayed metamorphosis in the wood frog. At concentrations less than 2 mg l-1 NO2-N nitrite delayed hatching, and at concentrations above 2 mg l-1 time to hatching decreased causing more individuals to hatch at less developed stages. Nitrite also increased asynchrony in tiger salamander hatching. The sublethal effects of nitrite on amphibian development, growth and hatching could have serious repercussions on amphibian fitness in ephemeral environments. Potential increases in mortality on field populations caused by sublethal effects of nitrite are discussed.
KW - Amphibian declines
KW - Development
KW - Ephemeral ponds
KW - Growth
KW - Metamorphosis
KW - Nitrogen
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33846470705&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10452-006-9047-1
DO - 10.1007/s10452-006-9047-1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33846470705
SN - 1386-2588
VL - 41
SP - 119
EP - 127
JO - Aquatic Ecology
JF - Aquatic Ecology
IS - 1
ER -