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EFFECTS OF AN INSECTICIDE ON AMPHIBIANS IN LARGE‐SCALE EXPERIMENTAL PONDS
Author(s) -
Boone Michelle D.,
Semlitsch Raymond D.,
Fairchild James F.,
Rothermel Betsie B.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
ecological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.864
H-Index - 213
eISSN - 1939-5582
pISSN - 1051-0761
DOI - 10.1890/02-5308
Subject(s) - metamorphosis , tadpole (physics) , carbaryl , leopard frog , biology , larva , amphibian , toad , predation , competition (biology) , ecology , zoology , pesticide , physics , particle physics
We examined the effects of the insecticide carbaryl on larval amphibian communities in large‐scale experimental ponds. Tadpoles of two anurans, Woodhouse's toad ( Bufo woodhousii ) and southern leopard frog ( Rana sphenocephala ), were reared in ponds (800 m 3 volume) to determine the effects of tadpole density and carbaryl exposure on mass at metamorphosis and on time and survival to metamorphosis. Exposure to carbaryl significantly affected toads at metamorphosis, but not leopard frogs. Carbaryl exposure nearly doubled toad survival compared to controls; this effect may be attributable to an indirect effect of carbaryl increasing algal food resources. The competitive environment (i.e., density) and carbaryl exposure significantly affected the trade‐off between mass and time to metamorphosis for toads. Our study is the first to demonstrate that in pond communities where predation and competition may be strong, short‐lived insecticides can significantly alter the community dynamics of amphibians.