Abstract:
Amphibians constitute highest number (41%) of threatened vertebrates. The group is facing threats such as habitat destruction, climate change, epidemics, invasive species and pollution due to pesticides and heavy metals. Nanoparticles are small sized elements (P <; 100nm) manufactured on a large scale for different products and also occur in nature. We conducted the present study to see if growth (body weight, tail length, body length, total length and body width) and development differed among tadpoles of Murree Hills frogs Nanorana vicina treated with a gradient (0, 10, 25 and 40 mg/L) of Iron Oxide (FeO) nanoparticles (NP)concentrations under laboratory conditions. The frog is endemic to forested montane high-altitude freshwater wetlands of Himalayan region. We carried out synthesis and characterization of the NPs using standard protocols. We then subjected a total of 48 tadpoles to the selected concentration gradients (three replicates for each concentration, 4 tadpoles/replicate, 12 tadpoles /concentration) for eight weeks. We weighed and measured tadpoles and observed development using developmental stages described by Gosner (1960) on weekly basis. Our results showed that the mean of all studied variables (body weight, tail length, body length, total length and body width) in tadpoles subjected to 10, 25 and 40 mg/L of FeO nanoparticles concentrations were significantly lower (P< 0.05) when compared with the control (0 mg/L). However, advanced developmental stages (38 and above) were attained in the control and all three treatments. We present first empirical data on how nano particles of a heavy metal could affect a high-altitude endemic frog species.
Page(s):
0-0
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: First International Conference on Revamped Scientific Outlook of 21st Century (Abstract Book), Volume: 0, Issue: 0, Year: 2022
Keywords:
Heavy metals
,
Himalayan endemics
,
nanotechnology
,
Aquatic pollution
,
Forested wetlands