Meeting Abstract
Amphibians populations are experiencing widespread and rapid declines in recent years. Amphibians are extremely sensitive to environmental conditions and numerous studies suggest that chemical contaminants and disease present immediate threats to amphibian populations worldwide. In addition to directly killing amphibians, contamination of aquatic environments with chemicals has been linked to sublethal disruptions of the endocrine and immune systems. This study examined the impact of exposure to a neonicotinoid pesticide on the nuptial pad in a laboratory model amphibian, the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. Neonicotinoids are widely used to kill insect pests by mimicking nicotine and disrupting function of the nervous system. The nuptial pad contains keratinized hooks and breeding glands sensitive to androgens. Adult male X. laevis were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of imidacloprid by immersion for 48 days. Photographs of the forelimb area containing the nuptial pad were taken both prior to treatment and at the end of treatment. The intensity and size of the nuptial pads in these images is currently being determined. Imidacloprid has been indicated to impact male reproduction in other species, therefore valuable data may be obtained to aid in understanding the impact of imidacloprid on amphibian reproduction.
