Rana Ridibunda Research Articles

Ecotoxicological Studies on the Action of Actara 25 WG Insecticide on Prussian Carp (Carassius gibelio) and Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus).

The toxic action of the Actara 25 WG insecticide (it contains 25% thiamethoxam as an active substance) in non-lethal doses was studied in two species of aquatic organisms—the Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) and the marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)—at two thermal levels, 6–8 °C (low temperature) and 18–20 °C (room temperature), respectively. In the Prussian carp, we recorded decreases in oxygen consumption and stimulation of the respiratory rhythm, changes that were more pronounced in the case of intoxicated fish and when the species were kept at room temperature. The histopathology of the lung in the frog illustrated the thickening of the conjunctival septum, an increase in the number of mucous cells, and an increase in the ratio between the diameter of the nucleus and the diameter of the pneumocyte. All of these changes were more pronounced in the animals kept at higher temperature. Our study looks at the extent to which temperature changes can influence the ability of poikilothermic organisms to withstand the presence of toxic substances in the environment as a result of the impact of the use of insecticides in agriculture. The two tested organisms are a common presence for the study area, which was affected in the last decade by climate change.

Black-spotted pond frog Pelophylax nigromaculatus as a new host for the renal coccidian genus Hyaloklossia (Alveolata: Apicomplexa).

Hyaloklossia Labbé, 1896 (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) is a renal coccidium that infects anuran species. The genus consists of two species: H. lieberkuehni, recorded from Pelophylax kl. esculentus, Pelophylax ridibundus, and Rana temporaria in Europe; and H. kasumiensis, recorded from Pelophylax porosus porosus in Japan. However, there have been no reports of Hyaloklossia in the other anurans in Japan. On June 2021, we examined a total of 58 adult frogs comprising 2 P. p. porosus, 23 Pelophylax nigromaculatus, 8 Rana japonica, 3 Glandirana rugosa (Ranidae), 13 Fejervarya kawamurai (Dicroglossidae), and 9 Buergeria buergeri (Rhacophoridae) for infection by Hyaloklossia. Microscopic examination of kidney tissues revealed a high infection incidence of 47.8% (11/23) in P. nigromaculatus, but the other frog species were negative for Hyaloklossia. Morphological and molecular analyses using nuclear ribosomal and mitochondrial genes confirmed the infective species as H. kasumiensis. This is a new host record for H. kasumiensis.

Characterization and Evaluation of Cell-Penetrating Activity of Brevinin-2R: An Amphibian Skin Antimicrobial Peptide

Natural peptides have been the source of some important tools to address challenges in protein therapy of diseases. Bypassing cell plasma membrane has been a bottleneck in the intracellular delivery of biomolecules. Among others, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) provide an efficient strategy for intracellular delivery of various cargos. Brevinin-2R peptide is an antimicrobial peptide isolated from the skin secretions of marsh frog, Rana ridibunda with semi-selective anticancer properties. Here, we investigated cell-penetrating properties of Brevinin-2R peptide and its ability to deliver functional protein cargos. Bioinformatics studies showed that Brevinin-2R is a cationic peptide with a net charge of + 5 with an alpha-helix structure and a heptameric ring at the carboxylic terminal due to disulfide bond between C19 and C25 amino acids and a hinge region at A10. To evaluate the ability of this peptide as a CPP, β-galactosidase protein and GFP were transfected into HeLa cells. The entry pathway of the peptide/protein complex into the cell was investigated by inhibiting endocytic pathways at 4°C. It was observed that Brevinin-2R can efficiently transfer β-galactosidase and GFP with 21% and 90% efficacy, respectively. Brevinin-2R opts for endocytosis pathways to enter cells. The cytotoxicity of this peptide against HeLa cells was studied using MTT assay. The results showed that at the concentration of 131.5μg/ml of Brevinin-2R peptide, the proliferation of 50% of HeLa cells was inhibited. The results of this study suggest that Brevinin-2R peptide can act as a CPP of natural origin and low cytotoxicity.

Effects of Acute Ammonium Nitrate Levels Caused by Agricultural Activities on Four Amphibian Species in The Eastern Black Sea Region

The tadpoles of four amphibian species, namely the Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus), the Iranian Long-Legged Frog (Rana macrocnemis), the Caucasian Parsley Frog (Pelodytes caucasicus) and the Variable Green Toad (Bufotes variabilis), were exposed to acute concentrations (0 to 500 mg/L) of ammonium nitrate to assess the lethal effects (larval growth, abnormalities, mortality, and LC50 values). Eggs of each species were obtained from clean and polluted habitats in the same region and the tadpoles for experiments were provided from those eggs in the laboratory conditions. Although there was some variability between different populations of the same species or between different species in the observed effects, acute levels of ammonium nitrate caused decreased growth rate and increased abnormalities and mortality in general. Among the 4 amphibian species, the Variable Green Toad was the most damaged one in terms of growth reduction (on average 77-83%), and abnormality rates, and the most damaged one in terms of mortality rates was the Marsh Frog (on average 61-72%). Additionally, the species with the lowest concentration of ammonium nitrate, which killed half of its population, was the Marsh Frog. LC50 values for two populations of Marsh Frog were 37 and 59 mg/L. As a result of our research, it was determined that the acute fertilizer levels caused by agricultural activities in the region had very important harmful effects for all the species we examined. In this context, it can be said that very important environmental and biodiversity problems may occur if certain precautions are not taken regarding the use of the fertilizers and if the awareness of the farmers using these fertilizers cannot be raised.

Effects of Environmentally Relevant Ammonium Nitrate Levels Caused by Agricultural Activities on Four Amphibian Species in The Eastern Black Sea Region

Within the scope of this research, the chronic effects of ammonium nitrate, which is the most widely used fertilizer worldwide, on the tadpoles of Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus), the Iranian Long-Legged Frog (Rana macrocnemis), the Caucasian Parsley Frog (Pelodytes caucasicus) and the Variable Green Toad (Bufotes variabilis) were examined. To assess the chronic effects of the fertilizer, the tadpoles of all the species were exposed to 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mg/L concentrations in same conditions. The chronic concentrations were applied from the 25th developmental stage to the 42nd developmental stage. It was defined at the end of the experiments that although there were some variability between different populations of the same species or between different species in the observed effects, chronic levels of ammonium nitrate caused decreased growth rate, prolonging in time to complete metamorphosis, increased abnormalities, and mortality in general. Among the 4 amphibian species, the Variable Green Toad was the most damaged one in terms of growth reduction (on average 31-41 %), abnormality rates (on average 50-75 %), prolonged time to complete metamorphose (14-21 days on average) and mortality rates (%54-100). The most adaptive species and the least damaged one was an Iranian long-legged frog for growth reduction (on average 0-15 %), prolonged time to complete metamorphose (7-9 days on average), and mortality rates (%9-15). All the harmful effects of chronic fertilizer levels caused by agricultural activities in the region had very important for examined species in our researches and it can be said that important environmental and biodiversity problems may occur if certain precautions are not taken regarding the use of the fertilizers and if the attitudes of the farmers on this issue cannot be changed.

Rana ridibunda

This datasheet on Rana ridibunda covers Identity, Distribution.

Seasonal and ontogenic variation in the trophic spectrum of Anatolian water frogs, Pelophylax ridibundus group, in the Eastern Mediterranean (Amphibia: Anura)

Seasonal and ontogenic variation of food composition in Anatolian water frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus group) were analysed in the Seyhan and Ceyhan Deltas, southern Turkey. A total of 1,226 prey items were retrieved from the stomachs of 335 individuals (75 juveniles, 148 males, 112 females) in spring, summer and autumn. The frogs fed mainly upon invertebrates, especially insects (80.4%), and the prey spectrum was strongly influenced by prey availability in the environment. The most frequently consumed prey items were Hemiptera (31.6%), Coleoptera (29.0%), Hymenoptera (23.6%), and Diptera (21.5%). While adult frogs consume various invertebrate preys such as annelids, gastropods, arachnids, and insects, the diet of juveniles is mostly confined insects. No significant differences were found in the seasonal variation of prey types between sexes. Prey diversity and volume increased in spring and summer, and decreased in autumn with the decrease of the air temperature and reduced activity of the frogs.

Comparisons of biochemical compositions in marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)(Anura; Ranidae) grown in different conditions; wild, semicultured and cultured ones

Frogs can be added to a list of different raw materials which have sustainable economic value to their producers. Therefore, the biochemical attributes of the frogs require further scientific scrutiny. The major objective of the current study is to investigate some biochemical compositions of edible portions of Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771) grown in different conditions. The wild frogs, semicultured frogs, and cultured frogs were investigated regarding female and male specimens, leading to six groups that were determined to investigate the biochemical features of frogs. The results show that they (all frogs in all six groups) have low lipid contents (p < 0.05). The protein contents of the frogs varied in the range of 10.54%-16.10%. The lowest ash contents were found in semicultured male and female frogs. The average moisture contents were roughly 80% for all specimens. The major fatty acids were C16:0, C18:0, C18:1n9, C18:2n6, and C20:4n6 for wild, semicultured, and cultured frogs, respectively, for both sexes, showing their respective amounts varied among groups. All in all, the results show that there exist some differences in the nutritional content of frogs grown in different

Involvement of 5-HT1 and 5-HT5A Receptors in Modulation of Synaptic Transmission and Intrinsic Membrane Properties of Spinal Motoneurons of the Frog (Rana ridibunda)

Involvement of 5-HT1 and 5-HT5A Receptors in Modulation of Synaptic Transmission and Intrinsic Membrane Properties of Spinal Motoneurons of the Frog (Rana ridibunda)

Using of fluctuating asymmetry in adult Pelophylax ridibundus (Amphibia: Anura:Ranidae) meristic traits as a method for assessing developmental stability of populationand environmental quality of their habitat: industrial area in southern Bulgaria

One way to assess the impacts of toxicants on populations of anurans is through developmental stability (DS) - the ability to buffer stresses during development stages. To assess the extent of possible perturbations in DS of frogs that inhabit a polluted industrial area east of Plovdiv city, Bulgaria, we applied analysis of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in ten morphological traits in P. ridibundus. As a control group, we used animals inhabiting a less disrupted site. Based on the FA levels obtained for the frogs from both sites, we evaluate the state of their habitat. In the contaminated site, the mean FAMI (frequency of asymmetric manifestation of an individual) index for P. ridibundus individuals was 0.87 and in the reference site, it was 0.37, respectively. In our opinion, these results are evidence that in the population inhabiting the industrial area, there are very serious disorders in DS. We believe that they are the result of the chronic effects of stress agents of anthropogenic origin, whose negative effects affect all stages of the life of individuals. The results show that changes in the levels of asymmetry in the meristic morphological features in adults and sexually mature individuals of P. ridibundus are a very reliable method for bioindication.

The Cases of Abnormal Amplexus in Anura on the Territory of the Chernivtsi Region, Ukraine

The paper contains information about 21 cases of abnormal amplexus among anurans (Amphibia) detected on the territory of the Chernivtsi Region, Ukraine. Multiple amplexus, consisting of one female and two or more males, was registered in three species: Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria. The author described interspecific amplexus in six cases. Five of them were among anurans (Bufo bufo male × Pelophylax lessonae male, Rana dalmatina males × Rana temporaria female or males, Rana temporaria male × Pelophylax ridibundus female) and one case — among Anura and Caudata (Bombina variegata male × Lissotriton montandoni female).

Beaver-created microhabitats in a small water body and their impact on flora and fauna (the Khoper River floodplain, Russia)

This study shows how beaver digging activity can affect water body morphology and local biota under modern environmental conditions in a small floodplain lake. The total area of microhabitats created by beavers was found to reach 7% of water body area and 30% of littoral-zone area. It was noted that the zoogenic microhabitats are different when depth is greater and plant cover is smaller, especially of emergent vegetation. HelophytesSparganium erectumandAlopecurus aequaliswere found to prefer the beaver-unaffected part of the littoral. InvertebratesNaucorissp. andHydrophilussp. prefer beaver microhabitats, whereasPlanorbis planorbis,Lymnaea palustris, andHydroussp. prefer thickets of emergent plants in beaver-unaffected littoral areas. Adult crucian carpsCarassius carassiusproved to be abundant in the beaver-unaffected part of the water body, while the adult weatherfishMisgurnus fossilisprefers beaver burrows, and its fry inhabit beaver-unaffected sites. A similar situation was observed for marsh frogsPelophylax ridibundus: adults prefer beaver microhabitats in June, but frog tadpoles mainly inhabit a beaver-unaffected littoral. Tadpoles ofPelobates vespertinusproved to be slightly aggregated near beaver burrows in July. The beaver activity was found to slightly increase β-diversity within the water body according to Jaccard indices. The results confirm that the beaver-created heterogeneity is important for aquatic biota under conditions of shallowing of floodplain water bodies.

Invasion of a marsh frog Pelophylax ridibundus in water bodies of Western Siberia

In 1957–2003, the marsh frog Pelophylax ridibundus invaded the territory of Western Siberia from adjacent Kazakhstan and the Urals along five corridors associated with river valleys and their tributaries, along permanent and temporary streams in the Irtysh, Obsk, Ishim-Tobolsk, Pogranichny (Ural- West Siberian), Yenisei areas.

A development of a PCR-RFLP test system for the identification of mitochondrial lines of the Pelophylax ridibundus lake frog in Kazakhstan

A development of a PCR-RFLP test system for the identification of mitochondrial lines of the Pelophylax ridibundus lake frog in Kazakhstan

A review to the study of the distribution, ecology and genetic diversity of marsh frogs

A review to the study of the distribution, ecology and genetic diversity of marsh frogs

LUNGS HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN EXPERIMENTAL INTOXICATION WITH RELDAN 40 EC AT PELOPHYLAX RIDIBUNDUS (PALLAS, 1771)

The objective of this paper is to study the histological changes induced by Reldan 40EC in a dose of 0.01 ml chlorpyrifos/g body weight at the level of the lungs of the amphibian specimens Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771). The insecticide was administrated by intraperitoneal injection (1 injection at 2 days in a scheme for 2 weeks). Highly degenerative changes were observed in animals cultured at 22–24°C, compared to those cultured at 4–6°C: thickness of alveolar septa, intraparietal, higher number of hypertrophied goblet cells, disorganization of blood capillaries, fibrosis.

Surgical Management of a Digestive Tract Hernia in a Wild Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)

A wild-caught mature female marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) was presented for a left-sided dorsal swelling. No other abnormalities were detected during the examination. Fine-needle aspiration was non-diagnostic. Baseline hematological and biochemical analyses were within normal reference ranges, and medical imaging did not provide further useful information. Surgical exploration under general anesthesia was performed. The swelling was confirmed to be a digestive tract hernia protruding through a breach of the dorsal muscles and coelomic membrane. Reduction of the hernia was made difficult by the presence of multiple adhesions between the herniated tissue and the coelomic membrane, suggesting a relatively chronic lesion. A traumatic cause was hypothesized. One month later, the animal was considered healed and released back into the wild. Hernias in amphibians are poorly reported in the literature and historically are only found ventrally. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a dorsal hernia in a captive or a wild amphibian.

What the distribution of sperm size can tell about the stability of spermatogenesis in hybrid frogs Pelophylax esculentus

Interspecies hybrid frogs Pelophylax esculentus and one of its parental species Pelophylax ridibundus inhabit the Siversky Donets center of diversity of water frogs in Eastern Ukraine. These frogs can crossbreed and form progeny in population systems which are called hemiclonal (HPS). Such systems have their own exceptional features which make them interesting for studying. The Lower Dobrytskiy Pond, which is situated in the National Nature Park “Homilshansky lisy” and is a part of Siversky Donets river basin, is on focus. Current work is devoted to the combination of two methods of spermatogenesis investigation. First, using the method of Ag-staining we observed high variability of meiotic chromosomal plates in testes of 24 adult male water frogs P. esculentus (2n=26). Only one male had 100% of full meiotic plates with no aneuploid plates. A significant amount of studied males (21/24) produced aneuploid chromosomal plates (4-68% of the total amount of meiotic plates). This may lead to a decrease in their fertility or even to their entire sterility. Also, we have not observed any chromosomal meiotic plates in two of 24 males. Some males (8/24) even produced meiotic chromosomal plates with 26 bivalents (i.e. 4n germ cells) which may testify about the ability to produce diploid sperm. Further, the lengths of urinary sperm cells’ heads were measured. Finally, we performed an analysis of both meiotic chromosomes in testes and the distribution of sizes of urinary sperm cells’ heads of hybrid water frogs Pelophylax esculentus from Siversky Donets basin to find out if there is a link between these two features. No difference in sperm heads lengths was found between males producing moderate and low amounts of sperm. Based on the data of meiotic plates all males were assigned into five categories via PCA (principal component analysis). A significant difference in sperm heads lengths was found within the category I (males with mostly full meiotic plates). The analysed data shows that each male from the studied population has his own unique features. No direct link between sperm cells size and features of meiotic chromosomes in testes was found.

New Records of Trematode and Acanthocephalan Species in Frogs in Erzurum Province, Turkey.

SummaryA total of 32 frogs of two species (Rana macrocnemis, Pelophylax ridibundus) that were dissected in some lectures in Ataturk University Science Faculty Biology Department were investigated parasitologically even after the lectures between 2008 and 2014. 9 digenean species (Cephalogonimus retusus [Cephalogonimidae]; Diplodiscus subclavatus [Paramphistomotidae]; Gorgodera cygnoides, Gorgoderina vitelliloba [Gorgoderidae]; Haplometra cylindracea, Haematoloechus variegatus, Opisthioglyphe ranae, Skrjabinoeces similis and Skrjabinoeces breviansa [Plagiorchiidae]), 3 acanthocephalan species (Acanthocephalus ranae, Centrorhynchus sp., Pomphorhynchus laevis) were found. All the parasites are the first record for Erzurum province, Cephalogonimus retusus and Skrjabinoeces similis are the first records of the parasite fauna of Turkey.

Histological Comparison of the Edible Water Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus Pallas, 1771) Gonads Before and After Reproduction

In this study, testicular and ovarian structures of economically important edible Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771) were histologically examined before and after reproduction in male and female individuals. Fourty eight (24 ♀, 24 ♂) adult frogs were collected from Gölbaşı Lake in Hatay. The average weight and length values of female frogs collected from nature were found to be 56.61±19.59 g and 79.54±7.07 mm; while, the average weight and length values of male frogs were 36.63±12.84 g and 69.29±9.15 mm, respectively. Frogs were brought to the frog farm established in Aydıncık and placed in breeding ponds with a width of 1m2. Frogs in the ponds were brought to the laboratory of Iskenderun Technical University in different periods, before breeding (March) and after breeding (June). Then, histological samples were taken from ovary and testis. The female frogs were determined ready for reproduction. Moreover, a large number of mature oocytes in the before breeding ovaries in vitellogenic stage, while after reproduction oocytes in primary structure and oocytes which have atresia status observed. Also, increase in the thickness of the theca layer was determined. In the male frog seminiferous tubules containing a large number of spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid and a small number of spermatozoons including sperm bundles and leydig cells were found before reproduction. After the reproduciton, the density of spermatogonia, spermatocyte and spermatids were decreased; while, the density of spermatozoon and sperm bundle were increased in the seminiferous tubules. This study will contribute to the determination of mating and spawning in frog breeding by revealing the histological status of the gonad structure of P. ridibundus in the breeding process.