Induction of Mortality and Malformation in Scinax nasicus Tadpoles Exposed to Glyphosate Formulations

Abstract

On the global scale several factors have been suggested as possible causes of amphibian declines, including ultraviolet radiation related to ozone layer depletion, climate change, and virulent pathogens (Wake 1991; Blaustein et al. 1994; Pounds et al. 1997). Similarly, there is an extensive literature on the toxic effects of human activities in general and chemicals used in insecticides and herbicides (Power et al. 1989). On a regional scale there have been cases of frog mortality and cessation of frog choruses following application of glyphosate-based herbicides (Tyler and Williams 1996). Scinax nasicus was selected to carry out the present study. This hylid has an extensive distribution on Neotropical regions. Moreover it is frequently found in agricultural and urban territories...