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Effects of microplastics on growth and development of Rana latastei tadpoles: A mesocosm study
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Mesocosm experiments exposing Rana latastei tadpoles to a mixture of PVC and HDPE microplastics found developmental delays and reduced survival, providing more ecologically realistic estimates of MP toxicity than laboratory-only studies.
Microplastics (MPs) and their chemical additives have been demonstrated to affect the digestive system of exposed animals and its functionality. Their feeding habits make anuran larvae particularly vulnerable to MPs. However, in laboratory tests the effects of MP contamination on tadpoles showed to be inconsistent. We used mesocosms to test the effects of a mixture of plastic polymers (3 PVC: 3 HDPE: 3 PES: 1 PS) on the behaviour, growth and development of Italian agile frog Rana latastei under controlled near-natural conditions. Tadpoles were exposed for four weeks to four different treatments (1, 7, 50 mg/L MP concentrations and uncontaminated water as control). The mean number (± SE) of fibres per tadpole ranged from 0.17 ± 0.17-3882.6 ± 411.8. No significant difference in tadpole behaviour, survival and development (Gosner stage at the end of the experiment) was recorded. The clearest effect on morphology was a significant increase in tadpole mass for the 50 mg/L group compared to controls, which was confirmed, through geometric morphometric analysis, by variation in centroid size. The recorded increase in tadpole growth rate may be imputed to the obesogenic effects of MPs, mainly polyester fibres, and their associated chemicals. As MPs are currently ubiquitous, the role played by MP exposure on larval growth needs to be carefully investigated to point out the potential long-term effects of the most widespread polymers.
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The effects of a microplastic mixture on wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) across multiple life stages in an outdoor mesocosm experiment
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In a 96-day outdoor mesocosm experiment, researchers exposed wood frogs to a mixture of polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics across multiple life stages. The study found that microplastic exposure increased larval growth and delayed development at higher concentrations, and that microplastics were detected in the liver and muscle tissue, suggesting frogs may act as biovectors transferring microplastics between aquatic and terrestrial environments.
Effects of Exposure to Different Types of Microplastics on the Growth and Development of Rana zhenhaiensis Tadpoles
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Researchers exposed frog tadpoles to three types of microplastics -- polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene -- and found that polyethylene and polystyrene caused the most harm, significantly reducing metamorphosis rates, body weight, and body length. These two plastics also caused visible liver tissue damage and altered gut bacterial communities compared to controls. The study reveals that different types of microplastics can have very different levels of toxicity to developing amphibians.
Polystyrene microplastics did not affect body growth and swimming activity in Xenopus laevis tadpoles
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Xenopus laevis tadpoles exposed to polystyrene microplastics at ecologically relevant concentrations showed no significant effects on body growth or swimming activity. The results suggest that short-term microplastic exposure may not impair basic performance in amphibian larvae, though longer-term or higher-dose effects remain to be investigated.
Microplastics from miscellaneous plastic wastes: Physico-chemical characterization and impact on fish and amphibian development
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Researchers created microplastics from real-world miscellaneous plastic waste and tested their effects on zebrafish and frog embryo development. The waste-derived microplastics, which more closely resembled environmental particles than commercial microspheres, caused species-specific effects including delayed hatching in zebrafish and intestinal accumulation and tissue stress in frog embryos.
Persistent Effects of Naturally Aged Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics on Physalaemus cuvieri Tadpoles: The Toxic Legacy Beyond Exposure
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Researchers exposed Physalaemus cuvieri tadpoles to naturally aged PET microplastics and found that toxic effects — including elevated oxidative stress, disrupted dopamine levels, and altered enzyme activity — persisted after exposure ended, demonstrating a cumulative legacy effect where damage from microplastic ingestion continues even after the pollutant is removed.
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