Abstract
Biomarkers represent a promising tool as “early-indicators” of potential pollutant impacts, providing the link between individuals’ responses and higher hierarchical levels, such as populations and communities. In this study we use alteration of escape behavior, caused by exposure to typical agrochemicals, as a biomarker of wetland pollution. Tadpoles from three different Iberian anuran species were exposed to sublethal concentrations of copper sulfate and ammonium nitrate for 96 h. Different behavioral indicators were then monitored: number of stimuli to provoke a displacement, distance moved, and nature of escape movement. All species showed similar behavioral alterations. The endpoints of all the three behavioral indices showed deficits leading to a reduction in the capacity and efficiency of escape. The recovery when larvae were moved to clean water was surprisingly fast. After 96 h in recovery, almost all larvae showed normal escape behavior. This indicates that this larval behavioral biomarker can be used as a warning tool in wetland biomonitoring programs in a continuous runoff or spill pollution context.
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