Autor(es):
Araújo, Cristiano V.M. 
; Shinn, Cândida ; Moreira-Santos, Matilde ; Lopes, Isabel ; Espíndola, Evaldo L. G. ; Ribeiro, R.
Data: 2014
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10316/25493
Origem: Estudo Geral - Universidade de Coimbra
Assunto(s): Amphibian population decline; Anuran larvae; Avoidance; Contamination; Environmental disruptiona
Descrição
Amphibians have experienced an accentuated population decline in the whole world due to many factors,one of them being anthropogenic contamination. The present study aimed to assess the potential effect ofcopper, as a worldwide and reference contaminant, on the immediate decline of exposed population dueto avoidance and mortality responses in tadpoles of three species of amphibians across climatic zones:a South American species, Leptodactylus latrans, a North American species, Lithobates catesbeianus, and aEuropean species, Pelophylax perezi. A non-forced exposure system with a copper gradient along sevencompartments through which organisms could freely move was used to assess the ability of tadpolesto detect and avoid copper contamination. All species were able to avoid copper at a concentration aslow as 100 g L−1. At the lowest (sublethal) concentrations (up to 200 g L−1) avoidance played an exclu-sive role for the population decline, whereas at the highest concentrations (>450 g L−1) mortality wasthe response determining population decline. The median concentrations causing exposed populationimmediate decline were 93, 106 and 180 g L−1for Le. latrans, Li. catesbeianus and P. perezi, respectively.Contaminants might, therefore, act as environmental disruptors both by generating low-quality habitatsand by triggering avoidance of tadpoles, which could be an important response contributing to disper-sion patterns, susceptibility to future stressors and decline of amphibian populations (together withmortality). nomic and Regional Development (FEDER) through the ProgramOperational Factors of Competitiveness (COMPETE) and NationalFunds though thePortuguese Foundation of Science and Technology(postdoctoral fellowships to CVM Araújo – SFRH/BPD/74044/2010and C Shinn – SFRH/BPD/78642/2011, Ciência 2007 – POPH andQREN, and to the research projects PTDC/AAC-AMB/104532/2008,PTDC/AAC-CLI/111706/2009, and PTDC/BIA-BIC/3488/2012) andby FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation, Brazil, #11/07218-6.
