Environ. Sci.
Technol., Just Accepted Manuscript
DOI:
10.1021/es303989u
Publication
Date (Web): February 13, 2013
(Apology but
whom to contact, as well as organizations authors are associated with was not
available.)
Abstract
Bioaccumulation of
contaminants and subsequent maternal transfer to offspring are important
factors that affect the reproductive success of wildlife. However, maternal
transfer of contaminants has rarely been investigated in amphibians. We
examined maternal transfer of trace elements in southern toads (Bufo[Anaxyrus]
terrestris) residing in two locations:
1) an active coal combustion waste (CCW) disposal basin and adjacent 40-ha
floodplain contaminated with CCW over 35 years ago, and 2) an uncontaminated
reference site. Our study is among the few to document tissue
concentration-dependent maternal transfer of contaminants and associated
adverse effects in amphibians. We found that females collected from the
CCW-contaminated area had elevated concentrations of Ni, Se, and Sr; these
females also transferred elevated levels of Cu, Pb, Se, and Sr to their eggs
compared to females from the reference site. Overall reproductive success,
estimated as a function of clutch size and offspring viability, was reduced by
27% in clutches collected from parents from the contaminated site compared to
the reference site. Offspring viability negatively correlated with female
and/or egg concentrations of Se and Ni. Reproductive success negatively
correlated with Se and Cu concentrations in females, and Se concentrations in
eggs. Our study highlights how exposure to CCW can negatively affect amphibian
reproduction.
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