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Amphibian Decline: Effects of Acid Rain

By: Asia Montgomery

What is Acid Rain?

�  A broad term that describes the several ways that acid falls from the atmosphere �  Dry deposition �  Acid rain

�  Acid snow

�  Forms nitric acid and sulfuric acid from gaseous pollutants �  Sulfur dioxide – sulfuric acid

�  Nitrogen dioxide – nitric acid

(Singh, 2008)

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What it Effects

�  All bodies of water �  Higher effect on ephemeral pools because of little dilution

�  Phytoplankton, zooplankton, invertebrates �  Zooplankton disappear below pH 5

�  Amphibians, Fish

�  Vegetation �  Strips soil of essential nutrients

�  Small watersheds = little soil buffering

�  Reducing cover, breeding sites, and egg-laying sites

(Singh, 2008)

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Why are they Vulnerable?

�  Acid rain effects water bodies, where amphibians spend the developmental and reproductive stages of life

�  Highly permeable skin

�  Effects all aspects of their life �  Food – decreased zooplankton, leading to decreased insects �  Cover – decreased/damaged vegetation �  Reproduction – destroy breeding sites, external fertilization �  Highest mortality rates in embryos �  Damages larvae and adults

Effects to Embryos �  Embryo mortality in pH < 4.5

�  Depends on species tolerance level

�  Curling of embryo �  Depends on species tolerance level �  Causes deformation of spine and tail, dorsal arching, and preventing ability to swim in larvae

�  Yolk plugs fail to retract �  Depends on species

�  Stunted, or kinked gills

�  Body wall swelling near heart

�  Study found, “hatching success fell from >90% at pH > 6.5 to 60% at pH < 6.5” in spotted salamanders

(Sandinski, 1992; Pough, 1977)

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Effects to Larvae

�  Decreased growth rate �  Short exposure (3 days) �  Small metamorphosis size

�  Decreased survival, due to acid sensitivity

�  Increased predation �  Smaller larval size, prey for gape-limited predators �  Limited mobility for escape

�  Loss of body sodium �  Death happens when 50% of body sodium is lost

(Blaustein, 1990; Clark, 1985; Freda, 1986; Pierce, 1993)

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Effects to Adults

�  Damage to skin �  Important for respiration

�  Decreased size

�  Acid related stress �  Low soil pH

�  Loss of water and sodium �  Especially in salamanders

�  Avoid possible breeding grounds �  Acid decreases competition and predators

(Pierce, 1993; Stallard, 2001)

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Indirect Effects of Acid Rain

�  Delayed hatching

�  Delayed metamorphosis �  From delayed hatching, reduced food availability

�  Increasing stress

�  Increasing effects of other declining factors �  Aluminum toxicity �  Temperature �  Disease

(Freda et al., 1991; Sandinski, 1992)

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Species Declines

�  Tiger Salamanders �  Episodic acidification of the Rockies �  65% decline in 7 yr.

�  Natterjack toad �  Extinct in lowland heaths �  Held 50% of British pop.

�  Jefferson salamander, Spotted salamander �  Decreased reproduction

�  American Toad �  Decreased hatching success

(Blaustein, 1990; Clark, 1985; Freda et al., 1991; Pough, 1977)

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Think About It: Why is it Important?

�  Increases the effects of other declining factors

�  Effects all aspects of life �  Acid rain is a HUMAN made

problem

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References �  Blaustein, Andrew R., and David B. Wake. "Declining Amphibian Populations: A Global Phenomenon?"

Trends in Ecology and Evolution 5.7 (1990): 203-04. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

�  Clark, Karen L., and Ronald J. Hill. "Effects of Elevated Hydrogen Ion and Aluminum Concentrations on the Survival of Amphibian Embryos and Larvae." Canadian Journal of Zoology 63 (1985): 116-23. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

�  Freda, Joseph, Walter J. Sadinski, and William A. Dunson. "Long-term Monitoring of Amphibian Populations with Respect to the Effects of Acidic Deposition." Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 55 (1991): 445-62. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

�  Freda, Joseph, and William A. Dunson. "Effects of Low pH and other Chemical Variables on the Local Distribution of Amphibians." Copeia 2 (1986): 454-66. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

�  Pierce, Benjamin A. "The Effects of Acid Precipitation on Amphibians." Ecotoxicology 2 (1993): 65-77. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

�  Pough, F. H., and Richard E. Wilson. "Acid Precipitation and Reproductive Success of Ambystoma Salamanders." Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 7 (1977): 307-16. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

�  Sadinski, Walter J., and William A. Dunson. "A Multilevel Study of Effects of Low pH on Amphibians of Temporary Ponds." Journal of Herpetology 26.4 (1992): 413-22. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

�  Singh, Anita, and Madhoolika Agrawal. "Acid Rain and its Ecological Consequences." Journal of Environmental Biology 29.1 (2008): 15-24. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

�  Stallard, Robert F. "Possible Environmental Factors Underlying Amphibian Decline in Eastern Puerto Rico: Analysis of U.S. Government Data Archives." Conservation Biology 15.4 (2001): 943-53. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

Picture References 1.  http://study.com/cimages/multimages/16/acid_rain_diagram.jpg

2.  http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XO4QaIEYl8U/T-4dQ4hrAdI/AAAAAAAABrI/8oAOGCO97vw/s1600/acid3.png

3.  http://www.windows2universe.org/milagro/images/clover_acidrain.gif

4.  http://imgarcade.com/1/acid-rain-effects-on-animals/

5.  http://savethefrogs.com/amphibians/images/north-america/Ambystoma-macrodactylum-croceum-larva-Robert-Shields-328.jpg

6.  http://www.sea-way.org/blog/New_Amphibians1.JPG

7.  p://www.waterencyclopedia.com/images/wsci_01_img0009.jpg

8.  https://beetlesinthebush.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/img_3409_enh_crp_1200x800_usm.jpg

9.  http://www.animalspot.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Natterjack-Toad-Photos.jpg

10.  http://www.vernalpool.org/images/21_ys_a.jpg

11.  http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Nongame/salamanders/salamander_images/Jefferson1_DaveKazyak.jpg

12.  http://amphibiaweb.org/amphibian/speciesnums.html

13.  tp://acidrain.pbworks.com/w/page/1319116/What%20is%20Acid%20Rain

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Questions??