« Previous AbstractInducible defences in Daphnia: responses to two closely related predator species    Next Abstract"Chemicals released by predation increase the growth rate of yellow perch, Perca flavescens" »

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf

Title:		"Effects of copper, zinc and dragonfly kairomone on growth rate and induced morphology of Bufo arabicus tadpoles"
Author(s):		Barry MJ;
Address:		"Biology Department, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 36 Al Khod, Muscat 123, Oman. mjbarry@squ.edu.om"
Journal Title:		Ecotoxicol Environ Saf
Year:		2011
Volume:		20110119
Issue:		4
Page Number:		918 - 923
DOI:		10.1016/j.ecoenv.2010.12.014
ISSN/ISBN:		1090-2414 (Electronic) 0147-6513 (Linking)
Abstract:		"It is well documented that many amphibian species can detect chemical signals from predatory invertebrates and subsequently develop alternate phenotypes that are protective against predation. The effects of metallic pollutants on the development of predator-induced morphology have not previously been reported. Tadpoles of the Arabian toad Bufo arabicus were exposed for 20 days to copper (0, 10 or 100 mug/L), zinc (0, 10 or 100 mug/L) and kairomones of larval dragonflies (Crocothemis erythrea 1 dragonfly/12 L) in a fully crossed design. The effects of these treatments of growth and body shape were measured. Measured copper concentrations after 24 h were 4.25 mug/L+/-1.30 (10 mug/L nominal) and 34.9 mug/L+/-2.15 (100 mug/L nominal). Measured zinc concentrations were 3.04 mug/L+/-0.1 (10 mug/L nominal) and 26.3 mug/L+/-12.3 (100 mug/L nominal). Tadpoles exposed to 34.9 mug/L copper were significantly lighter and had a shorter body length than other groups. There was no direct effect of zinc on growth or tadpole shape. Tadpoles exposed to dragonfly kairomones were heavier, wider and had deeper bodies when viewed laterally and had longer tails but overall length was not affected. At 4.25 mug/L copper differences between the control and predator-exposed phenotypes increased but at 34.9 mug/L the phenotypes converged, indicating that copper may inhibit the induced response"
Keywords:		"Adaptation, Physiological/drug effects Animals Bufonidae/anatomy & histology/growth & development/*physiology Copper/*toxicity Food Chain Growth and Development/drug effects Insect Proteins/*pharmacology Larva/anatomy & histology/drug effects/growth & dev;"
Notes:		"MedlineBarry, Michael J eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2011/01/22 Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2011 May; 74(4):918-23. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2010.12.014. Epub 2011 Jan 19"