Abnormalities in amphibian populations inhabiting agroecosystems in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Agostini, Gabriela; Kacoliris, Federico Pablo; Demetrio, Pablo M.; Natale, Guillermo Sebastián; Bonetto, Carlos Alberto; Ronco, Alicia Estela

doi:10.3354/dao02592

Cited by 54 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…After flooding, tadpoles complete their development in proximate water bodies (Lavilla et al 2000). Agostini et al (2013) also suggested a link between the prevalence and types of malformation and the levels of exposure to malformation factors during early stages and the habits of juveniles and adults.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Attademo et al 2005, Guerra & Aráoz 2015. The variation of prevalence and types of malformation between them could result from differences in their natural history (Johnson et al 2001a, Agostini et al 2013) and consequently in their sensitivity (e.g. Relyea 2009, Attademo et al 2014.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This differential sensitivity influences the prevalence and the type of malformations of each species (e.g. Johnson et al 2001b, Agostini et al 2013. Moreover, the causal agent of malformations may fluctuate through time (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several field studies have shown that agrochemicals induce malformations in tadpoles and metamorphs (e.g. Taylor et al 2005, Agostini et al 2013 or reduce growth during metamorphosis, affecting health in adulthood (e.g. Brodeur et al 2011, Hegde & Krishnamurthy 2014, Wagner et al 2014.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Amphibian malformations and body condition across an agricultural landscape of northwest Argentina

Guerra¹,

Aráoz²

2016

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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Agricultural landscapes support large amphibian populations because they provide habitat for many species, although agriculture affects amphibians through various mechanisms. Pollution with agrochemicals is the major threat to amphibian populations after habitat loss, as chemicals alter the ecophysiology of amphibians, putting their health and survival at risk. We aimed to assess the effect of different environments, sites, width of forest buffers and sampling years on the health of amphibians, which was estimated through the prevalence of malformations and body condition. During 3 yr of pitfall trapping, we captured 4491 amphibians. The prevalence of malformations was higher in the croplands than in the forests, while the body condition was better within forests. The prevalence of malformations was higher in the narrower forest site than in the wider forest site. The prevalence of malformations and the body condition were higher in the third year. The prevalence of malformations differed by species. We found 11 types of malformation, which mainly affected limbs and were unilateral or bilaterally asymmetrical. Our results showed that the prevalence of malformations and body condition reflect different aspects of the health of amphibians and that forest individuals are healthier than those from croplands. The results also highlight the importance of spatial configuration besides the conservation of natural habitats to preserve healthy amphibians in agricultural landscapes. The types of malformation that we found suggest that agrochemicals could be an important cause of malformations. KEY WORDS: Anurans · Abnormalities · Agrochemicals · Amphibian disease · Spatial configurationResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Amphibian malformations and body condition across an agricultural landscape of northwest Argentina

Guerra¹,

Aráoz²

2016

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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“…Soybeans crops replaced lands for livestock, expanding the agricultural frontier to areas previously not been reported in areas of accelerated replacement; these changes are mainly associated with pesticide pollution of wetlands and aquifers, and habitat loss (Herrera et al 2013). Studies conducted in croplands of this region have documented that members of amphibian populations have debilitated bodies, enzymatic alterations (Brodeur et al 2011), and high prevalences of abnormalities (Agostini et al 2013). Additionally, application of common pesticides cause lethal and sublethal effects on tadpoles (Agostini et al 2009, Agostini 2013.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infection patterns of the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, on anuran assemblages in agro-ecosystems from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Agostini

Burrowes

2015

Phyllomedusa

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Infection patterns of the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, on anuran assemblages in agro-ecosystems from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is linked to extinctions and declines of amphibians. Additionally, in the context of amphibian decline, the habitat loss related to agricultural landscapes is likely the single most important human activity affecting lowland amphibian populations. To assess the impact of anthropogenic land use on anuran response to Bd, infection patterns in several ponds from cultivated (CA) and uncultivated areas (UCA) were studied. Four anuran species (Rhinella fernandezae [Bufonidae]; juvenile and adult of Leptodactylus latrans [Leptodactylidae]; and the hylids Hypsiboas pulchellus and Pseudis minuta) were monitored and tissue samples were collected for Bd species tested positive for Bd, but anurans inhabiting the UCA were twice more likely to in the UCA, suggesting that vulnerability to Bd is associated with land use in agroecosystems. At the assemblage-level, the infection patterns also differed among species, and those with aquatic habitats (L. latrans and P. minuta) had high prevalence and infection levels of Bd. Juvenile stages of L. latrans had higher prevalence and infection level than adults in both study areas. This work contributes to our understanding of anthropogenic effects on host-pathogen relationships, particularly on the effect of Bd on anuran assemblages under different levels of agricultural impact. Keywords

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Artificial aquatic habitats impoverish amphibian diversity in agricultural landscapes of central Argentina

Perrone

Deutsch

Bilenca

et al. 2022

Aquatic Conservation

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1. In central Argentina, agro-ecosystems constitute the dominant landscape, representing the replacement of extensive grassland areas by crops and pastures. Agriculture has caused the loss of extensive areas of Pampean inland wetlands through drainage and the construction of artificial aquatic habitats such as ditches and ponds. 2. This study evaluated the availability and amphibian breeding use of 194 natural and artificial open water habitats and identified those attributes that affect amphibian diversity (richness, abundance and species occurrence). 3. Interviews with farmers revealed that all artificial ditches, drainage channels and ponds were constructed directly or indirectly to support agricultural activities, and 61.5% of them were created at the expense of natural wetlands. The results from generalized linear mixed models) indicated a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in amphibian richness (14.2-35.7%) and abundance (35.3-86.6%) in artificial habitats compared with natural habitats. 4. Overall, vegetation cover, average depth and edge slope emerged as the most important attributes affecting amphibian diversity in artificial open water habitats.Vegetation cover had a significant (P < 0.05) positive influence on species richness and abundance, whereas average depth and edge slope had the opposite effect. 5. Given the substantial modification of inland wetlands in central Argentina, natural aquatic habitats should be considered top priorities for conservation, and law enforcement is urgently needed to control the drainage and levelling of lagoons, ponds and low-lying areas. The appropriate design and planning of constructed wetlands, including shallow depth and slightly sloping edges, could greatly improve the ability of artificial wetlands to favour native amphibians in these altered landscapes.6. Artificial wetlands could offer complementary habitats to natural habitats for amphibians and aquatic wildlife if actions leading to sustainable management and territorial planning are applied.

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Abnormalities in amphibian populations inhabiting agroecosystems in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Cited by 54 publications

References 31 publications

Amphibian malformations and body condition across an agricultural landscape of northwest Argentina

Amphibian malformations and body condition across an agricultural landscape of northwest Argentina

Infection patterns of the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, on anuran assemblages in agro-ecosystems from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Artificial aquatic habitats impoverish amphibian diversity in agricultural landscapes of central Argentina

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