Article Review: Researchers have found a way to detect frogs at risk of pollution

Amphibian populations all over the world are facing declines due to habitat loss, disease, and pollution. In a study by Strong, Martin, Jones, Shore, and Halsall published in Scientific Reports, researchers examined a "biochemical tissue fingerprint" in early-stage tadpoles and spawn of Rana temporaria (the Common frog). This "fingerprint" is the biochemical makeup of the animal, and via attenuated total reflection fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy the scientists were able to find markers that indicate stress in the organism such as glycogen. The article cites that glycogen can be depleted in stressful situations, such as pollution in their environment. The study was carried out over a three year period, and the researchers examined the Common frog populations in ponds with varying degrees of pollution in Northern England. The researchers found decreases in glycogen in tadpoles from lower water quality ponds compared to glycogen levels in tadpoles from higher water quality ponds. This research demonstrates that the use of IR spectroscopy is helpful in detecting differences in the tadpoles biochemical makeup and would make a good tool to asses the effects of pollution in a population of organisms and could potentially help amphibian populations that are at risk of pollution.

References

Rebecca Strong, Francis L. Martin, Kevin C. Jones, Richard F. Shore, Crispin J. Halsall. Subtle effects of environmental stress observed in the early life stages of the Common frog, Rana temporaria. Scientific Reports, 2017; 7: 44438 DOI: 10.1038/srep44438