[common frogs mating]...cold and clammy, but you gotta love us !
TRANSCRIPT
Animals as Environmental Animals as Environmental Sentinels of Human Sentinels of Human
PollutionPollution
Feature Creatures = Feature Creatures = AmphibiansAmphibians
By Leslie A. Dierauf, VMDBy Leslie A. Dierauf, VMDSanta Fe, New MexicoSanta Fe, New Mexico
SentinelsSentinels (O’Brien, (O’Brien, 1993)1993)
““...organisms whose known ...organisms whose known characteristics can be measured to characteristics can be measured to
assess the extent of assess the extent of environmental…implications…and environmental…implications…and to provide early warning of those to provide early warning of those
implications.”implications.”
PollutionPollution
Contamination of the earth’s Contamination of the earth’s environment with materials that environment with materials that
interfere interfere
with health, quality of life, with health, quality of life,
or the natural functioning of or the natural functioning of ecosystems.ecosystems.
Three Ways In Which Amphibians Are Affected By Their Environment
Bullfrog skin Eggs w/tadpoles Tadpole w/gills
Human Population Growth:Human Population Growth:Its Effects on SentinelsIts Effects on Sentinels
Loss or modification of habitat Loss or modification of habitat PredationPredation Introduction of non-native speciesIntroduction of non-native species Air and water quality impactsAir and water quality impacts Climate changesClimate changes
Air Quality EffectsAir Quality Effects
Greenhouse gas productionGreenhouse gas production Volatile organic compoundsVolatile organic compounds Aerosolized pesticides & other Aerosolized pesticides & other
chemicalschemicals Particulate matter and Particulate matter and
silt/sedimentationsilt/sedimentation
Water Quality & Quantity Water Quality & Quantity EffectsEffects
HerbicidesHerbicides PesticidesPesticides Heavy metalsHeavy metals Other materials in run-offOther materials in run-off Decreased pH & Increased salinityDecreased pH & Increased salinity Lowering of water tablesLowering of water tables Loss of freshwater spring flowsLoss of freshwater spring flows
Trematode Life-CycleTrematode Life-Cycle
Deformed Frog
Larval Form of TrematodeEncysts in Leg Bud of Tadpole
Snail Ingests TrematodeBird Eats Tadpole
Digestive JuicesRelease EncystedLarvae
Climate Change EffectsClimate Change Effects
Increased ultraviolet lightIncreased ultraviolet light Acid rainAcid rain Global warmingGlobal warming DiseaseDisease
Maintaining Biological Maintaining Biological DiversityDiversity
Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs Mating
Bridging the Gap - Who?Bridging the Gap - Who?
Public Health VeterinariansPublic Health Veterinarians
EpidemiologistsEpidemiologists
Applied and Basic Research ScientistsApplied and Basic Research Scientists
Small Animal Veterinarians (pocket pets)Small Animal Veterinarians (pocket pets)
Exotic Animal CliniciansExotic Animal Clinicians
Wildlife VeterinariansWildlife Veterinarians
Zoo VeterinariansZoo Veterinarians
Ecosystem Health VeterinariansEcosystem Health Veterinarians
Bridging the Gap - How?Bridging the Gap - How?
Amphibian PhysiologyAmphibian PhysiologyReproductive PhysiologyReproductive PhysiologyParasitologyParasitologyDisease DiagnosisDisease DiagnosisPhysical Environs AlterationsPhysical Environs AlterationsReproducible ResultsReproducible Results
Organism & Organism & Its Response Its Environment To the Environment
DiseaseDiagnosis
Ecosyst’m PathologyHealth Epidemiol’y
Morbidity & Mortality
Envir’l TreatmentHealth & Care
Life Hx
Environ’lFactors
KeenObservat’n
PopulationDynamics
HabitatHealth
FieldStudies
Bridging the Gap - Why?Bridging the Gap - Why?Healthy Environs Mean Healthy Animals Healthy Environs Mean Healthy Animals and Humansand Humans
Veterinarians have unique skills to communicate science simplyVeterinarians have unique skills to communicate science simply
Multi- and Inter-disciplinary research efforts recognize the Multi- and Inter-disciplinary research efforts recognize the value of animals as sentinelsvalue of animals as sentinels
Veterinarians are trained in systematic observation & reasoningVeterinarians are trained in systematic observation & reasoning
Attention to individual cases may help explain Attention to individual cases may help explain whether, how, and why a population is changingwhether, how, and why a population is changing
Use of clinical evidence and clinical judgementUse of clinical evidence and clinical judgement
Long-term monitoring and consistencyLong-term monitoring and consistency
Some Suggested Causes of Some Suggested Causes of Amphibian Declines & Amphibian Declines & DeformitiesDeformities
Habitat Modification and/or Destruction Predation--Introduced Non-Native Competitors Volatile Organic Compounds/Skin, Eggs, Tads Air- & Water-Borne Chemicals, Heavy Metals... Acid Rain and Increased UVB Exposure Retinoids, such as Retinoic Acid Climate Change and Emerging Diseases Trematodes, Ribeiroia spp.Encysting at Legbuds Fungi, such as Chytrid Bactrochochytrium spp. Iridescent Viruses, such as Iridovirus (ATV)
AmphibianAmphibianUp-to-Date WebsitesUp-to-Date Websites
www.avma.org/netvet/amphib.htm(American Veterinary Medical Assoc)www.uga.edu/srelherp (Savannah River Ecology Lab)www.usgs.gov (USGS, Biological Research Service)www.mp2-pwrd.usgs.gov/frogwatch(Frogwatch--Local Reports of Nation)cmgm.stanford.edu/~meisen/herp/(Stanford University Research)www.fws.gov/r9endspp/esysgal.htm(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)