The Effects of Used Motor Oil, Silt, and the Water Mold Saprolegnia parasitica on the Growth and Survival of Mole Salamanders (Genus Ambystoma)

摘要: Amphibians appear to be declining worldwide. One cause of their decline may used crankcase oil which leaks from motor vehicles and washes into ponds. Once in ponds, the either directly toxic amphibians, or indirectly affect them by disrupting food chains. The effects also compounded naturally occurring materials water column such as silt. Silt interfere with respiration across gill surfaces. This study examined silt on growth metamorphosis larval mole salamanders, Ambystoma opacum A. tigrinum tigrinum. In Experiment it ponds without silty pollution determine suitability habitats for salamander larvae. Two studied low levels combined animals raised laboratory fed prey items not oil. Three, explored at an ecosystem level raising salamanders field plastic micromesocosms that mimicked small Finally, Four, laboratory, short-term survival high concentrations found containing produce reduced size weight. Furthermore, while are relatively robust short term large oil, has deleterious community therefore exerts indirect negative effect salamanders. mi- cro-mesocosms were smaller weighed less than results growth, earlier metamorphosis, increased susceptibility mold Saprolegnia parasitica.