z-logo
Premium
Ozone exposure affects feeding and locomotor behavior of adult Bufo marinus
Author(s) -
Dohm Michael R.,
Mautz William J.,
Doratt Rogelio E.,
Stevens Julien R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1897/07-388.1
Subject(s) - toad , bufo marinus , biology , zoology , bufo , toxicology , amphibian , ecotoxicology , ecology
Ozone (O 3 ), a reactive component of air pollution, depresses feeding and voluntary locomotor behavior in laboratory rodents, but the effects of O 3 on amphibian behavior are not known. We evaluated the effects of 4 h of exposure to air or ozone (0.6 μl/L), on two ecologically relevant behaviors of the toad Bufo marinus. Toads were offered five mealworms at 1, 24, and 48 h after exposure. One hour after exposure, O 3 ‐exposed toads ate fewer mealworms than did air‐exposed toads (Fisher exact test, p = 0.005). Within 24 h after exposure, all toads ate four or five mealworms. Because movement is a key component of toad feeding behavior, we tested additional toads ( n = 25) for voluntary locomotor behavior during three 1‐h trials in a 2.9‐m 2 open‐field arena. Mean (± standard deviation) total distance moved was: pre‐exposure, 29 ± 19.5 m; 1‐h postexposure, 13 ± 15.6 m; and 24‐h postexposure, 17 ± 17.4 m. The means were not statistically different by repeated measures analysis of covariance. Therefore, our results suggest that a single 4‐h exposure to O 3 depresses toad feeding behavior after exposure but had little effect on voluntary locomotor behavior.

This content is not available in your region!

Continue researching here.

Having issues? You can contact us here