Journal of Environmental Biology

Effect of nitrate-related compounds on growth, survival and hematological responses in tadpoles of the Cuban tree frog, Osteopilus septentrionalis  (Boulenger)

 

F. Punzo¹  and  S. Law²

¹ Department of Biology, Box 5F, University of Tampa, Tampa, Florida  33606, USA

² P.O. Box 546, Tampa, Florida 33606, USA

 

(Received: 16 April, 2004 ; Accepted: 08 February, 2005)

 

 

Abstract: Experiments were conducted to assess the effects of nitrate-related compounds on survival, growth, and hematological responses in tadpoles of the Cuban treefrog, Osteopilus septentrionalis . Stage-25 tadpoles were exposed to a nitrate dilution series and exposed to distilled water (controls), 40 ppm nitrate, or 100 ppm nitrate. Survivorship was significantly higher for control animals as compared to those exposed to 40 and 100 ppm nitrate. Total blood Hb concentrations were not significantly altered by exposure to sodium nitrite, and a significant positive correlation was found between methemoglobinemia and nitrite concentration over the test range of 1.0 to 50.0 mg/l. Percentage Hb was significantly correlated with nitrite concentration. Percentage MHb for all treatment groups was significantly higher (18.4 to 45.3 %) than that of controls (5.4 %).

 

Key words:  Growth, Hematological responses, Nitrate, Osteopilus.

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