ORBi: Denoël Mathieu - Cumulative effects of road de-icing salt on amphibian behavior

Reference : Cumulative effects of road de-icing salt on amphibian behavior


	Document type :	Scientific journals : Article
	Discipline(s) :	Social & behavioral sciences, psychology : Animal psychology, ethology & psychobiology Life sciences : Environmental sciences & ecology Life sciences : Aquatic sciences & oceanology
	To cite this reference:	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/59186

Title :	Cumulative effects of road de-icing salt on amphibian behavior
Language :	English
Author, co-author :	Denoël, Mathieu [Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale >]
	Bichot, Marion [Université de Liège - ULg > Département des Sciences et Gestion de l'Environnement > Unité de Biologie du Comportement > >]
	Ficetola, G. Francesco [University of Milano-Biccoca, Italy > > > >]
	Delcourt, Johann [Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale >]
	Ylieff, Marc [Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale >]
	Kestemont, Patrick [Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix - Namur - FUNDP > > > >]
	Poncin, Pascal [Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale >]
Publication date :	2010
Journal title :	Aquatic Toxicology
Publisher :	Elsevier Science
Volume :	99
Issue/season :	2
Pages :	275-280
Peer reviewed :	Yes (verified by ORBi)
Audience :	International
ISSN :	0166-445X
City :	Amsterdam
Country :	The Netherlands
Keywords :	[en] Ecotoxicology ; NaCl ; Sodium Chloride ; Toxicity ; Behaviour ; Behavior ; Locomotion ; Video-tracking ; Ethovision ; Conservation ; Rana temporaria ; Common frog ; Amphibian ; Salt ; Road de-icer ; Road deicer ; de-icing agent ; Growth ; Survival ; Speed ; Activity ; Noldus ; Behavioural marker ; Behavioral marker
Abstract :	[en] Despite growing evidence of the detrimental effect of chemical substances on organisms, limited research has focused on changes in behavioral patterns, in part due to the difficulties to obtain detailed quantitative data. Recent developments in efficient computer-based video analyses have allowed testing pesticide effects on model species such as the zebrafish. However, these new techniques have not yet been applied to amphibians and directly to conservation issues, i.e. to assess toxicological risks on threatened species. We used video tracking analyses to test a quantitative effect of an environmental contaminant on the locomotion of amphibian tadpoles (Rana temporaria) by taking into account cumulative effects. Because recent research has demonstrated effects of de-icing salts on survival and community structure, we used sodium chloride in our experimental design (25 replicates, 4 concentrations, 4 times) to test for an effect at the scale of behavior at environmentally relevant concentrations. Analysis of 372 1-hr video-tracks (5 samples per sec) showed a complex action of salts on behavioral patterns with a dose and cumulative response over time. Although no effects were found on mortality or growth, the highest salt concentrations reduced the speed and movement of tadpoles in comparison with control treatments. The reduced locomotor performance could have detrimental consequences in terms of tadpoles’ responses to competition and predation and may be an indicator of the low concentration effect of the contaminant. On one hand, this study demonstrates the usefulness of examining behavior to address conservation issues and understand the complex action of environmental factors and, more particularly, pollutants on organisms. On the other hand, our results highlight the need of new computerized techniques to quantitatively analyze these patterns.
Funders :	Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (Communauté française de Belgique) - F.R.S.-FNRS ; Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale Collective d'Initiative des Chercheurs - FRFC
Target :	Researchers
Permalink :	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/59186
DOI :	10.1016/j.aquatox.2010.05.007
Mentions required by the publisher for OA :	This paper is published by Elsevier and available on Science Direct

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