Meeting Abstract
Amphibian populations worldwide are declining at accelerating rates. Due to their exploitation of both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, amphibians are greatly affected by chemical changes in their environment and are therefore known to be indicators of ecological conditions. One of the many changes that have been made to the landscape in recent decades has been the use of agricultural pesticides. One class of systemic insecticides, the neonicotinoids, has garnered popularity in the last twenty years and has been found as a contaminant in both ground and surface waters. This research project examined how imidacloprid, the most widely used neonicotinoid insecticide, affects the development of larval frogs as they transition from tadpoles to adults. We exposed the larvae of Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog) to four different environmentally relevant concentrations of imidacloprid. The influence of imidacloprid exposure on development was evaluated based on timing of metamorphosis, length, weight and hindlimb length at metamorphosis, and toxicity. By analyzing how imidacloprid exposure impacts this amphibian throughout metamorphosis, we can begin to explore potential consequences of imidacloprid use to other amphibians and across vertebrate classes.
