Genotoxic, Biochemical and Physiological Biomarkers Triggered by Agrochemicals in Neotropical Anuran Species

Abstract

At present, there are two key features of Neotropical amphibians’ biodiversity: one is that it is amazing and the other is that it is disappearing. This region has the highest diversity of species containing more species of amphibians than tropical Africa and Southeast Asia combined. Examination of assessment data for all Neotropical anuran species shows that modern agricultural practises top the list of threats, posing risks to up to 30% of all the assessed species. This type of agriculture makes use of a wide range of agrochemicals for genetically modified tolerant seeds. In this context, biomarkers, understood as the cellular, biochemical, physiological or histological quality in living organisms to assess the exposure or effect of xenobiotics, including agrochemicals, can provide connection clues on the exposure and biological responses in amphibians such as anurans. The information obtained from these sources can be later valid in the field for implementing environmental risk assessment strategies. The chapter aims to describe the use of biomarkers at the genetic, biochemical and physiological levels to validate their usefulness as endpoints in Neotropical anuran species to be used as validating tools indicating genotoxicology and ecotoxicology due to exposure to xenobiotics.