Fluctuating asymmetry rather than oxidative stress in Bufo raddei can be an accurate indicator of environmental pollution induced by heavy metals

Abstract

Oxidative stress (OS) and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) as risk markers for environmental stress are widely used to predict changes in the health and fitness of many animals exposed to pollutants. However, from the perspective of protecting declining amphibians, it remains to be verified which one would be a reliable indicator for amphibians exposed to long-term heavy metal pollution under natural conditions. In this study, the OS and FA of Bufo raddei exposed to natural heavy metal pollution were analyzed to determine which marker is more accurate for indicating heavy metal-induced stress. Three years of data were collected during the breeding season of B. raddei from Baiyin (BY), which has been mainly contaminated with Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd compounds for a long period, and from Liujiaxia (LJX), which is a relatively unpolluted area. Unexpectedly, although significant accumulation of the four heavy metals was found in the kidney and liver of B. raddei from BY, the levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde in these two organs were found to be irregular, with low repeatability in both BY and LJX. However, significant differences in the levels of FA were observed in B. raddei populations from these two areas over the past 3 years (P < 0.01). The degrees of FA in B. raddei populations from BY and LJX were assessed as degree 4 and 1, respectively. In short, this study suggested that FA was a more reliable and effective indicator than OS to monitor and predict long-term environmental stress on anuran amphibians.

Response of different plant species to pollution emitted from oil and gas plant with special reference to heavy metals accumulation

“…The presence of these pollutants causes an adverse effect on living organisms including both plant and animal that ultimately lead towards change in structure and function of an ecosystem (Bruno et al, 2003;Walker et al, 2012). Intensive disruptions at ecosystem and habitat level has threaten survival of many species especially those of a fragile nature (Guo et al, 2017). Furthermore, plants near to oil and gas industries are the most exposed living beings which are being affected badly.…”

Can road stormwater ponds be successfully exploited by the European green frog (Pelophylax sp.)?

“…amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals; Green 2001;Schulte-Hostedde et al 2005) and (2) the fluctuating asymmetry index (FA), which reflects minor deviations from a perfect bilateral symmetry of animals (Palmer & Strobeck 1986;Leung et al 2000). FA is used as an indicator of developmental stability (Guo et al 2017; see also Breno et al 2013 for mammals), past exposure to stressors, and fitness in amphibians (Costa & Nomura 2016;Guo et al 2017;Zhelev et al 2019). Taking into account previous studies concerning SWPs (Snodgrass et al 2008;Dorchin & Shanas.…”

“…Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) has been proposed as a good indicator of past stressful periods and of individual fitness in amphibians (Costa & Nomura 2016;Guo et al 2017;Zhelev et al 2019). FA has, thus, been used to compare environmental quality of different habitats used by amphibians (e.g.…”

“…Elevated concentrations of PAHs and heavy metals have been reported to directly and indirectly impact amphibians across various temporal scales. For instance, aforementioned pollutants have been shown to cause disorders during embryonic development (Bryer et al 2006;, body malformations that result in a greater fluctuating asymmetry (Guo et al 2017) and, ultimately, reduce survival (Dorchin & Shanas 2010;Gallagher et al 2014). Thus, the SWPs, containing polluted water, may negatively affect amphibian reproduction, which is of great concern for one of the most threatened vertebrate taxa in the world (Stuart et al 2004).…”

The morphometric and erythrometric analyses of Pelophylax ridibundus living in anthropogenic pollution resources

“…Short and long-term responses of the frogs to environmental toxicants are easily determined by examining physiological (blood, hormone, immunological and biochemical changes) and morpho-physiological parameters (hepatosomatic index, condition factor, asymmetry, etc.) (Zhelev et al, 2013(Zhelev et al, , 2014a(Zhelev et al, , 2015a(Zhelev et al, , 2017aPollo et al, 2015;Guo et al, 2017). Another bioindicator in the frogs is erythrometric parameters.…”