POPULATION AND HEALTH OF COMMON TOADS ACROSS AGRICULTURAL LANDS: IMPLICATION IN WORLDWIDE DECLINE

PAOLA M. PELTZER; RAFAEL C. LAJMANOVICH; ANDRÉS M. ATTADEMO; MARIANA CABAGNA; GABRIELA FIORENZA; CELINA M. JUNGES; AGUSTÍN BASSÓ

Froglog

DAPTF REPORT

Lugar: Canterbury, United Kingdom; Año: 2007 vol. 84 p. 4 - 6

1026-0269

Emerging evidence indicates that loss of habitat as a result of agricultural development may be contributing to reductions in anuran diversity in some locations. Although, this vertebrate group is commonly used in laboratory toxicity tests, few field studies have produced evidence a significant relationship between agricultural activities and amphibian responses. The overall goal of this research was to determine the diversity and health of toad populations on agricultural lands of Entre Ríos Province (Argentina). The three selected species in this study (Chaunus fernandezae, C. arenarum, and C. schneideri) are widely distributed in Argentina and have relatively small home ranges, making them excellent bioindicators of contamination at a local scale.