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Amphibians and Reptiles as Bioindicator Organisms: An Ecotoxicological and Ecological Review
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Frogs, lizards, and other amphibians and reptiles act like living pollution detectors—because they soak up chemicals from both water and land, scientists can study them to spot harmful contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, and microplastics building up in an ecosystem before they become a bigger problem. This matters for us too: if these creatures are absorbing dangerous pollutants, it's often a warning sign that the same contaminants could be moving through soil, water, and food supplies that eventually reach humans. This review pulls together existing research on the topic and calls for better, more standardized monitoring programs to catch environmental problems early
Amphibians and reptiles are increasingly recognized as highly effective bioindicator organisms for assessing environmental pollution and ecosystem health due to their unique physiological and ecological characteristics. This review provides a comprehensive and integrative evaluation of the biological, ecological, and methodological foundations underlying the use of herpetofauna in biomonitoring studies. Particular emphasis is placed on their dual habitat utilization, pollutant accumulation capacity, and sensitivity to both acute and chronic environmental stressors. The review synthesizes current knowledge on biomarker responses at multiple levels of biological organization, including biochemical, molecular, histopathological, and behavioral endpoints. The effects of major contaminant groups—such as pesticides, heavy metals, endocrine-disrupting compounds, and emerging pollutants like microplastics—are critically examined in relation to exposure pathways and species-specific responses. In addition, the role of amphibians as early-warning indicators and reptiles as long-term accumulation monitors is comparatively analyzed, highlighting their complementary value in integrated monitoring frameworks. Methodological approaches, including multi-biomarker strategies, genetic assays, and emerging omics-based techniques, are evaluated in terms of sensitivity, applicability, and limitations. The review also addresses key challenges in the field, such as the lack of standardization, variability among species and environments, and the need for long-term datasets. Finally, the study proposes a framework for the development of national biomonitoring programs with particular reference to the diverse and ecologically significant herpetofauna of Turkey. By integrating species selection, sampling design, and biomarker application, this review aims to contribute to the advancement of ecotoxicological monitoring and to support evidence-based environmental management and conservation policies.
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Microplastic Contamination in Amphibians and Reptiles: An Ecotoxicological Synthesis of Exposure, Mechanisms, and Risk Implications
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This review pulls together years of research on frogs, turtles, and other amphibians and reptiles, finding that many of these animals—especially sea turtles and tadpoles—carry surprisingly high levels of microplastics in their bodies, sometimes even passing them to their eggs. These plastics appear to disrupt hormones, immune defenses, and healthy gut bacteria in these animals, which matters for us too: these creatures share our water and food systems, and their struggles can be an early warning sign of environmental contamination that eventually reaches humans through the same air, water, and food sources.
Aquatic Reptiles as Model Organisms to Evaluate Environmental Pollution and Biomonitoring
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Researchers reviewed the use of aquatic reptiles as sentinel species for monitoring environmental contamination, including microplastics, heavy metals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Because reptiles occupy multiple levels of the food chain and absorb pollutants from water and prey, they can reveal the broader scope of ecosystem contamination.
Microplastics: Their Effects on Amphibians and Reptiles-A Review
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This review examines the effects of microplastics on amphibians and reptiles, synthesizing research on ingestion, tissue accumulation, and physiological impacts in these often-overlooked vertebrate groups.
Hazard assessment of microplastics and heavy metals contamination in Levant frogs (Pelophylax bedriagae): A bioindicator in Western Iran
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Scientists examined frogs from 16 locations in western Iran and found microplastics and heavy metals in their digestive tracts, confirming these animals are useful indicators of environmental contamination. Fibers were the most common microplastic type found, mainly from polyethylene and polypropylene. The study shows that microplastic pollution has reached freshwater habitats in Iran and is being ingested by amphibians that are part of broader food webs.
Developmental Abnormalities in Tadpoles as Biomarkers to Assess the Ecotoxicity of Traditional and Emerging Pollutants
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This review examines how developing tadpoles can serve as sensitive indicators of toxic contamination in aquatic environments, noting that micro- and nanoplastics are among the emerging pollutants shown to cause developmental abnormalities in amphibian larvae. Because amphibians absorb chemicals easily through their permeable skin, they serve as early warning systems for plastic pollution levels that may also threaten other wildlife and ecosystems.
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