Abstract
Acidic pond water may influence the reproduction of amphibians by causing direct mortality of embryos and larvae, and/or by disrupting trophic relationships between amphibians and other aquatic organisms. The embryo is the most sensitive stage of development and may abort soon after exposure to very low pH or eventually fail to hatch at a more moderate pH. Larvae are killed by disruption of Na and Cl balance. The toxicity of pond water is governed by complex interactions of pH, temperature, and the concentrations of Al, Ca, and organic acids. The reduction in recruitment associated with acidification of ponds affects both the local distribution and abundance of amphibians. The relative importance of different mechanisms of acidification of amphibian breeding sites is unknown. Amphibian breeding ponds are generally small, low in buffering capacity, and darkly stained by humic substances, making it difficult to discriminate between the contribution of acid from atmospheric input and natural sources (such as sphagnum and organic acids). It is however quite clear that temporary ponds are extremely vulnerable to acidification by rain and that they require continued monitoring in order to detect future changes in biological and/or chemical characteristics.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Literature cited
Baker, J.P. and Schofield, C.L.: 1980, Water Air Soil Pollut. 18, 289.
Beebee, T.J.C. and Griffin, J.R.: 1977, J. Zool., Lond. 181, 341.
Brown, D.J.A. and Lynam, S.: 1982, Bull. Envir. Contam. Toxicol. 30, 582.
Carroll, E.J. and Hedrick, J.L.: 1974, Devel. Biol. 38, 1.
Clark, K.L.: 1984, unpublished observations.
Clark, K.L. and Euler, D.: 1982, The Importance of pH and Habitat Disturbance in Amphibian Distributions in Central Ontario. Technical Report of the Wildlife Habitat Component, Lakeshore Capacity Study. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Queen's Park, Toronto.
Clark, K.L. and Hall, R.J.: 1985, Can. J. Zool. 63, 116.
Clark, K.L. and Lazerte, B.D.: 1985, Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 42, 1544.
Clymo, R.S.: 1967, ‘Control of cation concentrations, and in particular of pH, in Sphagnum dominated communities’. p. 273–284. In: Chemical Environment in the Aquatic Environment. H.L. Golterman and R.S. Clymo eds. N. V. Noord-Hollandsche Uitgevers Maatschappij — Amsterdam 1967.
Cook, R.P.: 1983, Biol. Cons. 27, 77.
Cooke, A.S. and Frazer, J.F.D.: 1976, J. Zool., Lond. 178, 223.
Corbett, E.S. and Lynch, J.A.: 1982, ‘Rapid fluctuations in streamflow, pH, and associated water quality parameters during a stormflow event’. p. 461–464. Proc. Inter. Sympo. Hydrometerol. Am. Water Resour. Assoc. June 13–17, Denver, CO.
Dale, J. and Freedman, B.: 1983, Effects of Acidity on Nova Scotia Amphibians. First Annual Report for the Canadian Widlife Service and Institute for Resource and Environment Studies. Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Dale, J.M., Freedman, B. and Kerekes, J.: 1985, Can. J. Zool. 63, 97.
Dale, J.M., Freedman, B. and Kerekes, J.: 1986, Proc. N.S. Inst. Sci., in press.
DeWalle, D.R., Sharpe, W.E., Leibfried, R.T., Dinicola, R.S., Kimmel, W.G. and Sherwin, L.S.: 1984, J. Environ. Qual. 13, 619.
Driscoll, C.T., Baker, J.P., Bisogni, J.J. and Schofield, C.L.: 1980, Nature 284, 161.
Dunson, W.A. and Connell, J.: 1982, J. Herp. 16, 314.
Freda, J. and Dunson, W.A.: 1984, Physiol. Zool. 57, 435.
Freda, J. and Dunson, W.A.: 1985a, Copeia 1985(2), 414.
Freda, J. and Dunson, W.A.: 1985b, Can. J. Zool. 63, 2649.
Freda, J. and Duns on, W.A.: 1985c, The Effect of Acidic Precipitation on Amphibians breeding in Temporary Ponds in Pennsylvania. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Eastern Energy and Land Use Team. Biol. Report 80(40.21), Box 705, Kearneyville, WV, 25430.
Freda, J. and Dunson, W.A.: 1986a, Copeia 1986(2), 454.
Freda, J. and Dunson, W.A.: 1986b, J. Comp. Physiol. B, in press.
Gascon, C. and Bider, J.R.: 1985, Can. Field-Nat. 99, 259.
Gascon, C. and Planas, D.: 1986 Can. J. Zool. 64, 543.
Glooschenko, V., Weller, W. and Eastwood, C.: 1985, Amphibian Abundance and Distribution with Respect to Environmental Contaminants and pH Stress Adjacent to Sudbury, Ontario. Technical report of Wildlife branch, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Queen's Park, Toronto.
Gosner, K.L. and Black, I.H.: 1957, Ecology 38, 256.
Haines, T.A.: 1981, Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 110, 669.
Hemond, H.F.: 1980, Ecol. Monogr. 50, 507.
Jewell, M.E. and Brown, H.W.: 1929, Ecology 10, 427.
Karns, D.R.: 1983, Toxic Bog Water in Northern Minnesota Peatlands: Ecological and Evolutionary Consequences for Breeding Amphibians. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
Katagiri, C.: 1975, J. Exp. Zool. 193, 109.
Kilham, P.: 1982, Michigan Botanist 21, 159.
Leuven, R.S.E.W., den Hartog, C., Christiaans, M.M.C and Heijligers, W.H.C.: 1986, Experentia, in press.
Ling, R.W., VanAmberg, J.P. and Werner, J.K.: 1986, Ambystoma maculatum and Rana sylvatica in Upper Michigan’. J. Herpetol., in press.
Mathews, R.C. and Morgan, E.L.: 1982, J. Environ. Qual. 11, 102.
McDonald, D.G.: 1983, Can. J. Zool. 61, 691.
McDonald, D.G., Ozog, J.L. and Simons, B.P.: 1985, Can. J. Zool. 62, 2171.
Mushinsky, H.R. and Brodie, E.D.: 1975, Amer. Midl. Nat. 93, 440.
Patrick, R., Matson, B. and Anderson, L.: 1979, ‘Streams and lakes in the Pine Barrens’. p. 169–193. In: Pine Barrens: Ecosystems and Landscape. R.T.T. Forman, ed. Academic Press, N.Y.
Peterson, R.H., Daye, P.G., Lacroix, G.L. and Garside, E.T.: 1982, ‘Reproduction in fish experiencing acid and metal stresses’. p. 177–196. In: Acid Rain / Fisheries. R.E. Johnson, ed. Am. Fish. Soc., Bethesda, MD.
Pierce, B.A.:1985, Unpublished observations.
Pierce, B.A. and Harvey, J.M.: 1986, Copeia, in press.
Pierce, B.A., Hoskins, J.B. and Epstein, E.: 1984, J. Herp. 18, 159.
Pierce, B.A. and Sikand, N.: 1985, Can. J. Zool. 63, 1647.
Porter, K.R. and Hakanson, D.E.: 1976, Copeia 1976(2), 327.
Pough, F.H.: 1976, Science 192, 68.
Pough, F.H. and Wilson, R.E.: 1977, Water Air Soil Pollut. 7, 307.
Punzo, F.: 1983, 31, 467.
Saber, P.A. and Dunson, W.A.: 1978, J. Exp. Zool. 204, 133.
Salthe, S.N.: 1965, Physiol. Zool. 38, 80.
Schlichter, L.C.: 1981, Can J. Zool. 59, 1693.
Smith, R.F.: 1960, An Ecological Study of an Acid Pond in the New Jersey Coastal Plain. Ph.D. Thesis, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.
Sprague, J.B. and Ramsey, B.A.: 1965, J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canad. 22, 425.
Tome, M.A. and Pough, F.H.: 1982, ‘Responses of amphibians to acid precipitation’. p. 245–254. In: Acid Rain / Fisheries. R.E. Johnson, ed. Amer. Fish Soc. Bethesda, MD.
Urch, U.A. and Hedrick, J.L.: 1981, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 206, 424.
Wilbur, H.M.: 1984, ‘Complex life cycles and community organization in amphibians’. p. 195–224. In: A New Ecology — Novel Approaches to Interactive Systems. P.W. Price, C.N. Slobodchoff, and W.S. Gaud, eds. John Wiley and Son, N.Y.
Yoshizaki, N.: 1978, J. Exp. Zool. 203, 127.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Freda, J. The influence of acidic pond water on amphibians: A review. Water Air Soil Pollut 30, 439–450 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305213
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305213