Meeting Abstract

85-5  Saturday, Jan. 7 11:15 – 11:30  Impacts of pH and UV-B on Stress and Developmental Rates of Wood Frog Lithobates sylvaticus Tadpoles: Implications with Regard to Prescribed Fire. MEAD, M.S.*; HOWEY, C.A.F.; LANGKILDE, T.; The Pennsylvania State University; The Pennsylvania State University; The Pennsylvania State University msm5545@psu.edu

Prescribed burning is a forest management technique that may affect pH and UV-B levels within vernal pools. UV-B exposure can cause morphological and behavioral abnormalities and can delay larval growth and development in amphibians. Low pH levels (e.g., 4.5) may also decrease growth rate and result in a longer larval period. The objective of this study was to determine how variations in pH and UV-B exposure interact to impact developmental rates and stress levels. Wood frog tadpoles were exposed to 3 different pH treatments (4.5, 5.5, and 6.5) and 3 different UV-B exposure treatments (1, 3, and 5 hrs) in a controlled laboratory setting. Our study design allowed us to test the effects of these treatments and interactions between treatments. Throughout the course of this experiment we measured developmental rates, changes in body condition, survival, and corticosterone levels (proxy for stress). Given that prescribed fire may influence canopy cover and water pH of vernal pools, our results suggest that prescribed fire may also influence tadpole developmental rates and stress levels. Future forest management practices may need to consider how they affect vernal pools in accordance with these results.