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Efectos de la Interacción entre Diversidad Genética y Radiaciones UV‐B sobre la Adaptabilidad de Rana sylvatica
Author(s) -
WEYRAUCH SHAUNA L.,
GRUBB THOMAS C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00334.x
Subject(s) - genetic diversity , biology , larva , amphibian , ecology , genetic variation , zoology , population , demography , genetics , sociology , gene
Genetic diversity may buffer amphibian populations against environmental vicissitudes. We hypothesized that wood frogs ( Rana sylvatica ) from populations with lower genetic diversity are more susceptible to ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) radiation than those from populations with higher diversity. We used RAPD markers to obtain genetic diversity estimates for 12 wood frog populations. We reared larval wood frogs from these populations and exposed experimental groups of eggs and larvae to one of three treatments: unfiltered sunlight, sunlight filtered through a UV‐B‐blocking filter (Mylar), and sunlight filtered through a UV‐B‐transmitting filter (acetate). In groups exposed to UV‐B, larval mortality and deformity rates increased significantly, but egg mortality did not. We found a significant negative relationship between genetic diversity and egg mortality, larval mortality, and deformity rates. Furthermore, the interaction between UV‐B treatment and genetic diversity significantly affected larval mortality. Populations with low genetic diversity experienced higher larval mortality rates when exposed to UV‐B than did populations with high genetic diversity. This is the first time an interaction between genetic diversity and an environmental stressor has been documented in amphibians. Differences in genetic diversity among populations, coupled with environmental stressors, may help explain patterns of amphibian decline.