Endosulfan exposure disrupts pheromonal systems in the red-spotted newt: a mechanism for subtle effects of environmental chemicals

Park, Daesik and Hempleman, Steven C. and Propper, Catherine R (2001) Endosulfan exposure disrupts pheromonal systems in the red-spotted newt: a mechanism for subtle effects of environmental chemicals. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109 (7). pp. 669-673. ISSN 1552-9924

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Abstract

Because chemicals introduced into the environment by humans can affect both long-term survivorship and reproduction of amphibians, discovering the specific mechanisms through which these chemicals act may facilitate the development of plans for amphibian conservation. We investigated the amphibian pheromonal system as a potential target of common environmental chemicals. By treating female red-spotted newts, Notophthalmus viridescens, to a commonly used insecticide, endosulfan, we found that the pheromonal system is highly susceptible to low-concentration exposure. The impairment of the pheromonal system directly led to disrupted mate choice and lowered mating success. There were no other notable physiological or behavioural changes demonstrated by the animals at the insecticide concentrations administered. Our findings suggest that the amphibian pheromonal system is one of the systems subject to subtle negative effects of environmental chemicals.

Item Type:	Article
Publisher’s Statement:	Reproduced with permission from Environmental Health Perspectives.
ID number or DOI:	10.1289/ehp.01109669
Keywords:	Amphibia; amphibian declines; Amphibians; Animals; Brain; Caudata; Chordata; declines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; electro-olfactogram; endosulfan; environmental chemicals; Environmental Exposure; eukaryotes; exposure; Female; glands; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Insecticides; Male; mating; mating preferences; Notophthalmus; Notophthalmus viridescens; olfaction; Pesticide and Drug Residues and Ecotoxicology (HH430) (New March 2000); pheromones; Population dynamics; Reproduction, Development and Life Cycle (Wild Animals) (YY200) (New March 2000); residues; Salamandridae; Sex Attractants; Sexual behavior; Smell; Toxicology and Poisoning (Wild Animals) (YY900) (New March 2000); Vertebrates; viridescens; Water Pollutants, Chemical
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Faculty/Staff
Department/Unit:	College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Science > Biological Sciences
Date Deposited:	30 Sep 2015 18:40
URI:	http://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/580

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