Cytogenetic and Molecular Genetic Indexes in Populations of Anura (Rana arvalis Nilsson) under Conditions of Radioactive and Chemical Pollution of an Aquatic Environment

Abstract

Amphibians are one of the most poorly studied groups of vertebrates in ecotoxicology and radioecology. The level of cytogenetic damage in the blood cells of tadpoles Rana arvalis Nilsson living on the territory of the Ukhta district of the village of Vodnyi in the Komi Republic, which is contaminated with technogenic radionuclides and heavy metals, is evaluated by “Comet assay”. It is shown that, in animals that develop in water bodies with high concentrations of radionuclides and heavy metals, the frequency of alkalilabile sites and single-strand break of DNA is higher than in the control area. No significant differences have been found when estimating the level of double-strand break of DNA. AFLP analysis indicates a weak genetic differentiation of the studied populations of amphibians.