HOPKINS, W.A.*; SNODGRASS, J.W.; BROUGHTON, J.; GWINN, D.C.; BAIONNO, J.A.; Savannah River Ecology Laboratory; Towson University; Towson University; Towson University; Savannah River Ecology Laboratory: Effects of coal combustion wastes on survival and development of larval anurans

In recent years, numerous studies have documented the deleterious effects of aquatic disposal of coal combustion wastes (CCW) on wildlife. Field studies indicate that amphibians are particularly vulnerable to CCW-exposure, but no studies to date have examined the effects of CCW on larval amphibian development under controlled laboratory conditions. Therefore, we exposed green frog (Rana clamitans) and wood frog (R. sylvatica) larvae to either clean sand or CCW to investigate the direct effects of CCW exposure on growth, development, and survival of larvae. Effects of exposure to CCW varied between species, with R. clamitans larvae experiencing more severe effects including a 26% reduction in survival and a 45% reduction in successful metamorphosis. Among larvae of both species that successfully completed metamorphosis, exposure to CCW decreased growth and developmental rates, resulting in 10% and 40% reductions in the size of resulting R. clamitans and R. sylvatica juveniles, respectively. Rates of malformations were low (less than 4%), and were not dependent on species or sediment treatment. Our results confirm the direct effects of CCW on aquatic amphibian larvae previously suggested by field studies, and indicate that considerable variation may exist in sensitivity among species exposed to these waste products.