Grantee Research Project Results
2004 Progress Report: Developmental Stability in Amphibians as a Biological Indicator of Chemical Contamination and Other Environmental Stressors, SEER project of SIP: Experimental Program To Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) From The Commonwealth Of Kentucky
EPA Grant Number: R829419E03Title: Developmental Stability in Amphibians as a Biological Indicator of Chemical Contamination and Other Environmental Stressors, SEER project of SIP: Experimental Program To Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) From The Commonwealth Of Kentucky
Investigators: Whiteman, Howard H. , Loganathan, Bommanna G.
Institution: Murray State University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2004 (Extended to September 30, 2005)
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004
Project Amount: $165,775
RFA: EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) (2000) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: EPSCoR (The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)
Objective:
The objective of this research project is to evaluate the potential of using developmental stability as a biological indicator of anthropogenic and natural stress in amphibians. Amphibians are ideal biological indicators, because their semi-permeable epidermis and complex life cycle expose them to multiple stressors in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Because of this, amphibians should be among the first vertebrates affected by anthropogenic stressors in either of these environments. Furthermore, some of the same stressors affecting amphibians are known to have negative effects on other species, including humans. Although we proposed to evaluate a wide range of possible stressors, a major thrust of this project is to correlate amphibian developmental stability with contaminant levels accumulated in their tissues. We hypothesized that amphibian developmental stability would decrease with increased levels of anthropogenic (contaminants, land use practices) and natural (population size and density) stressors. Our specific goals are to: (1) correlate the effects of environmental stressors with amphibian developmental stability; (2) evaluate the effect of species, life history stage, trophic level, and habitat type on measures of developmental stability; and (3) develop methods for separating the effects of anthropogenic and natural stressors.
Progress Summary:
In Year 4 of this grant, our research continues with the hard work and dedication of graduate, undergraduate, and postdoctoral students. Specifically, we continued to process two species of amphibians, bullfrogs and spotted salamanders, for developmental stability. Contaminant analysis now is completed on spotted salamanders, and is within a few samples of being complete on bullfrog adults and larvae. We have completed statistical analyses on the spotted salamander samples, and we are completing analysis on the landscape characteristics that might affect amphibian developmental stability. We have conducted some preliminary analyses on the incomplete bullfrog data.
Future Activities:
Currently, we are collecting more tadpole bullfrogs in an effort to increase our sample size and complete sampling. We also are completing the contaminant analysis on these bullfrog populations, and then will complete our asymmetry analysis.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 12 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
amphibians, bioindicators, contaminants, EPA Region 3, biomarkers, anthropogenic stressors, amphibian population, pollution prevention, human health biomarkers, ecosystem protection, environmental exposure and risk, Kentucky, KY,, Sustainable Industry/Business, RFA, Health, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Ecological Risk Assessment, Health Risk Assessment, EPA Region, Risk Assessments, State, amphibians, Environmental Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, Biochemistry, cleaner production/pollution prevention, clean technology, ecosystem health, hazardous emissions, pollution prevention, Kentucky (KY), butadiene, air emissions, environmental monitoring, amphibian bioindicator, population decline, animal model, PCB, exposure, causal mechanisms, amphibian decline, alternative materials, Region 3, biomarker measurements, air pollution, biomarker, biomarker based exposure inference, human health risk, amphibian population, pollution prevention research, biomarkersRelevant Websites:
http://www.kyepscor.org/ky_epscor_programs.htm Exit
http://www.murraystate.edu/qacd/cos/hbs/epaepscor-program.htm Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.