in neighboring habitats. Therefore, both suitable colonization sites and suitable dispersal corridors between sites are required. Assessment of landscapes for both requirements can contribute to ranking and selection of reintroduction areas, thereby improving management success. Following eradication of invasive American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) from most of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR; Arizona, United States), larval Chiricahua Leopard Frogs (Lithobates chiricahuensis) from a private pond were reintroduced into three stock ponds. Populations became established at all three reintroduction sites followed by colonization of neighboring ponds in subsequent years. Our aim was to better understand colonization patterns by the federally threatened L. chiricahuensis which could help inform other reintroduction efforts. We assessed the influence of four landscape features on colonization. Using surveys from 2007 and information about the landscape, we developed a habitat connectivity model, based on electrical circuit theory, that identified potential dispersal corridors after explicitly accounting for imperfect detection of frogs. Landscape features provided little insight into why some sites were colonized and others were not, results that are likely because of the uniformity of the BANWR landscape. While corridor modeling may be effective in more complex landscapes, our results suggest focusing on local habitat will be more useful at BANWR. We also illustrate that existing data, even when limited in spatial or temporal resolution, can provide information useful in formulating management actions. C. J. Jarchow et al., J. Herpetol. 50, 63–69 (2016). ONE GREEN HEALTH
Plethodon cinereus (Eastern Redbacked Salamander) not affected by long-term exposure to soil liming Alexander C. Cameron, Cari-Ann M. Hickerson & Carl D. Anthony
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he recovery of ecosystems affected by anthropogenic acidification is often a slow process, and one that is not always achievable through natural means. Application of carbonate materials to forest soils is being used more frequently to aid in the recovery of acidified ecosystems. However, few studies have addressed how the application of carbonate materials affects amphibians. We sampled field sites undergoing long-term application of highcalcium lime to investigate the effects of increases in soil pH on body condition and population demography of Plethodon cinereus (Eastern Red-backed Salamander). We found
no effect of soil liming on body condition, population demographics, or density of surface- active Eastern Red-backed Salamanders. Our results are consistent with previous studies regarding the response of this species to soil liming, but unique in that they arise from an investigation of the longterm effects of liming exposure on density and demography in a wild population of Eastern Red-backed Salamanders. A. C. Cameron, C. M. Hickerson, C. D. Anthony, Northeast. Nat. 23, 1 (2016). http://www.eaglehill.us/nena
months accumulated cadmium in their tissues, whereas all the newts exposed to cadmium showed alterations in the kidney, the liver and the skin, irrespective of the dose or the time of exposure. Only the kidney showed apoptosis, whereas metallothioneins and metallothionein mRNA did not increase. Our results show that also at very low concentrations, cadmium is able to induce accumulation of this metal, alterations in the tissues of T. carnifex and apoptosis, even if only in the kidney. Considering the physiological role of the tissues examined, the non-biodegradability of cadmium and the endocrine disruption, previously shown in this species as a consequence of the chronic exposure to the same cadmium concentrations, our results indicate that the current freshwater safety values established for cadmium appears not protective of amphibian health. A. Capaldo et al., Aquat. Toxicol. 173, 63 (2016).
The Italian Crested Newt (Triturus carnifex). Photo: B. Trapp.
Histological changes, apoptosis and metallothionein levels in Triturus carnifex (Amphibia, Urodela) exposed to environmental cadmium concentrations Anna Capaldo, Flaminia Gay, Rosaria Scudiero, Francesca Trinchella, Ivana Caputo,Marilena Lepretti, Anna Marabotti, Carla Esposito & Vincenza Laforgia
A
quatic pollutants are considered a contributing factor in the global decline of amphibians, especially urodeles, spending a great part of their life in the aquatic environment and provided with a naked, highly permeable skin. One of the most toxic environmental and industrial pollutants is cadmium, a metal well-known to be teratogen, carcinogen and a possible mutagen. Since it is not biodegradable, it accumulates in freshwater organisms, damaging the physiological processes also at very low concentrations. Therefore, freshwater safety values were established from the European community for cadmium of 44.5 nM/L in drinking water and 178 nM/L in sewage waters. However, a chronic exposure during three and nine months to these low cadmium concentrations induced endocrine disruption in the newt Triturus carnifex, an urodele amphibian highly sensitive to waterborne chemicals. Therefore, in this study we evaluated if the same chronic exposure to cadmium (44.5 nM/L and 178 nM/L, corresponding to the freshwater safety values established in drinking water and sewage waters, respectively), during three- and nine-months, induced in T. carnifex cadmium accumulation, histological alterations and apoptosis in the kidney, the liver and the skin, and changes in the amount of metallothioneins, involved in metal detoxication, and metallothionein mRNA. Our results showed that only the newts exposed to cadmium during nine
Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii) tadpole. Photo: C. Lanctôt.
Behavior, development and metal accumulation in Striped Marsh Frog tadpoles (Limnodynastes peronii) exposed to coal mine wastewater Chantal M. Lanctôt, William Bennett, Scott P. Wilson, Larelle Fabbro, Frederic D. L. Leusch & Steven D. Melvin
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oal mining generates large quantities of complex effluent, and this often contains high levels of dissolved solids, suspended solids, metals, hydrocarbons, salts and other compounds. Substantial volumes of mine wastewater are periodically discharged into the environment, through both planned and accidental releases, and this raises concerns about the potential for adverse impacts on aquatic wildlife. There have been few attempts to explore sub-lethal effects of coal mine wastewater on amphibians compared to other organisms, and this is particularly true for Australian species. To address existing knowledge gaps, we exposed Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii) tadpoles to 25, 50 and 100% coal mine wastewater collected from two holding dams (CMW1 and CMW2) located at an open cut mine in Central Queensland, Australia. The exposure lasted for four weeks, after which survival, growth and development, swimming behavior and concentrations of metals and metalloids in tail and liver tissues were assessed. Physico-chemical
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