Evidence of mutagenic and lethal effects of herbicides on Amazonian frogs

Philip M Fearnside,Lucas Ferrante

doi:10.1590/1809-4392202000562

Philip M Fearnside, Lucas Ferrante

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-4392202000562

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Journal: Acta Amazonica	Publication Date: Dec 1, 2020
Citations: 13	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: National Institute of Amazonian Research

Abstract

ABSTRACT Amphibians are excellent bioindicators because they are sensitive to chemical pollution and can indicate ecosystem changes due to the presence of or exposure to chemical compounds. Here we report evidence of the impact of herbicides, including glyphosate, on amphibians in a locality in the central Brazilian Amazon and compare it with data from other biomes in Brazil. We observed malformations in three species of Leptodactylus and local extinctions of Scinax ruber and Rhinella marina from reproductive sites close to an area where herbicides had been applied. The observations in the Amazon are similar to reports from Brazil’s Atlantic forest on morphological anomalies and mortality in amphibians exposed to herbicides. We warn of the threat of expanding crops for the production of biofuels in the Amazon due to their cultivation being associated with agrochemicals, including glyphosate, posing a threat to the biodiversity of the Amazon biome.

Highlights

Os anfíbios são ótimos bioindicadores porque são sensíveis à poluição química, indicando alterações ecossistêmicas pela presença de ou pela exposição a compostos químicos
Ecotoxicological research on the harmful effects of agricultural chemicals on fauna is necessary given the expansion of crops associated with the use of these products (Schiesari and Grillitsch 2011)
Two specimens with morphological anomalies were collected under the authorization of license # 61903-2 issued by Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMbio), and were deposited in the herpetological collection of Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA) as voucher specimens (INPA-H039761 and INPA-H039763)

Summary

Introduction

Os anfíbios são ótimos bioindicadores porque são sensíveis à poluição química, indicando alterações ecossistêmicas pela presença de ou pela exposição a compostos químicos. Aqui nós relatamos evidências do impacto de herbicidas, incluindo glifosato, em anfíbios em uma localidade na Amazônia central brasileira e as comparamos com dados de outros biomas no Brasil. We report evidence of the effect of herbicides, including glyphosate, on anurans on a farm in the central Brazilian Amazon.

Results

Conclusion