R. D. Semlitsch, M. Foglia, A. Mueller
Aug 1, 1995
Citations
2
Influential Citations
56
Citations
Journal
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Abstract
Triphenyltin compounds are used globally in agriculture as fungicides for a wide variety of crops. Their persistence in aquatic habitats and toxicity make them of special concern to amphibian species using temporary ponds or lakes for critical life-history functions. The effects of short-term exposure to three concentrations (5, 10, 20 μg/L) of triphenyltin chloride (TPT) were assessed for the swimming and feeding behavior of tadpoles of the European frog, Rana esculenta. The proportion of time spent swimming declined 33.8% with increasing TPT level. Treatments also had a significant effect on the proportion of time spent feeding, initially increasing in the acetone and lowest TPT treatments, but thereafter declining 19.6% with increasing TPT level. Tadpoles also compensated for reduced swimming by spending an increased proportion of activity time on feeding, but even this compensation declined at the highest TPT levels. Reduced swimming activity and food intake are likely to result in decreased growth and development as well as negatively influence adult traits such as size at maturity, survival to first reproduction, and fecundity.