Efeitos do bisfenol A sobre girinos de Physalaemus cuvieri (Anura: Leiuperidae) em ambientes temporários e permanentes

Abstract

The environmental contaminants contribute to the declining populations of many species of frogs, but few studies report the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) in these animals. However, the concentration of that substance in the environment increases with the technological and social advancement causing negative impacts on ecosystems and aquatic organisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of BPA, associated with other stressors (high density and environment drying) on the development of tadpoles of Physalaemus cuvieri that develop in lentic water bodies and temporary locations that may become illegal dumping in the cities. For this, we conducted one experiment in glass aquariums testing concentrations 0,005 µ L -1 and 2.5 µ L -1 of BPA combined with different initial densities of tadpoles (10 or 100) in permanent and temporary environments. We evaluated five response variables: survival until metamorphosis, mean larval period, snout-vent lenght of metamorphs, biomass production, and proportion of metamorphic females. The presence of BPA in the water decreased the survival and biomass production, however did not affected the larval period, body size of metamorphs and the sex ratio of individuals of P. cuvieri. Therefore, as in many places it have already been detected greater levels of bisphenol A than the tested concentrations used in this study, we expect that this contaminant may be affecting many amphibian populations, as many other animal species.