Study the Sensitivity of Rana tigrina Tadpoles to Agricultural Pesticide Runoff in Temporary Wetlands
Keywords:
Rana tigrina, agricultural runoff, temporary wetlands, pesticide toxicity, amphibian declineAbstract
Temporary wetlands in agricultural landscapes serve as critical breeding habitats for amphibians, yet they are increasingly threatened by pesticide runoff. The Indian bullfrog, Rana tigrina (currently Hoplobatrachus tigerinus), develops entirely within ephemeral aquatic systems. This study investigated the acute and chronic sensitivity of R. tigrina tadpoles to three commonly detected agricultural pesticides—chlorpyrifos, endosulfan, and malathion—under simulated temporary wetland conditions. Acute 96-hour toxicity tests revealed endosulfan as the most toxic compound (LC₅₀ = 0.82 µg/L), followed by chlorpyrifos (LC₅₀ = 8.45 µg/L) and malathion (LC₅₀ = 285 µg/L). Chronic exposure to sublethal concentrations significantly delayed metamorphosis, reduced body mass at metamorphosis, and induced dose-dependent morphological deformities including axial skeletal curvature and tail dysplasia. These findings demonstrate that R. tigrina tadpoles exhibit high vulnerability to agricultural pesticides at concentrations frequently detected in temporary wetlands of the Indian subcontinent.
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