Comparative effects of ammonium and nitrate compounds on Pacific treefrog and african clawed frog embryos

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 200 - 206
• Main Authors: SCHUYTEMA, G. S, NEBEKER, A. V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-02-1999; Berlin Springer Nature B.V; New York, NY
• Subjects: Agricultural runoff; Ammonium; Ammonium nitrate; Amphibians; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Anura - embryology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Embryos; Female; Fertilizers; Frogs; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Male; Nitrates; Nitrates - toxicity; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - toxicity; Reptiles & amphibians; Reptilia. Amphibia; Sodium; Xenopus laevis - embryology; Ammonium; Embryo; Growth; Toxicity; Interspecific comparison; Xenopus laevis; Amphibia; Salientia; Nitrates; Survival; Freshwater environment; Pollutant; Vertebrata; Lethal concentration; Water pollution; Developmental stage
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/s002449900461

The effects of ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, and sodium nitrate on survival and growth of Pacific treefrog (Pseudacris regilla) and African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) embryos were determined in static-renewal tests. The 10-day LC50s for the three ammonium compounds for P. regilla ranged from 25.0-32. 4 mg/L NH4 -N. The 10-day sodium nitrate LC50 for P. regilla was 578. 0 mg/L NO3-N. LC50s for X. laevis exposed for 4 or 5 days to the three ammonium compounds ranged from 27.5-60.2 mg/L NH4-N. The sodium nitrate LC50 for X. laevis ranged from 438.4-871.6 mg/L NO3-N. The lowest LOAEL based on length or weight was 6.1 mg/L NH4-N for the two species. The lowest LOAELs for NO3-N were 111.1 mg/L for P. regilla and 56.7 mg/L for X. laevis. Calculated unionized NH3 comprised 0.5-1.8% of measured NH4-N concentrations. Potential harm to amphibian populations could occur if NH4-N and NO3-N in agricultural runoff or drainage impacts sensitive life stages for a sufficiently long period.