Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic prevalence in anatolian water frogs (Pelophylax spp.)

Researchers found microplastics in the tissues of anatolian water frogs (Pelophylax spp.) collected from freshwater habitats in Turkey, documenting prevalence and characteristics of plastic particles in these amphibians whose populations are already stressed by multiple environmental pressures.

2022 Journal of Environmental Management 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics in true frogs (Ranidae:Pelophylax) populations from Türkiye

Researchers examined preserved frog stomach contents from 146 true frogs collected across Turkey and found microplastics in nearly 60% of individuals, with plastic fibers being the most common form. The findings show that frogs — which live both in water and on land — are useful indicators of microplastic contamination across multiple ecosystems, and that exposure has been occurring for decades.

2023 Environmental Research 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic footprints in marsh frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus) from two Turkish lakes

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in marsh frogs and their habitats at two Turkish lakes with different levels of human activity. Microplastics were found in frog digestive tracts, water, and sediment at both locations, with fibers being the most common particle type. The lake near higher human activity showed greater contamination, suggesting that urbanization and human presence are significant drivers of freshwater microplastic pollution.

2025 Environmental Sciences Europe 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination and ecological risk assessment in two tree frog species (Hyla orientalis and Hyla savignyi) across Türkiye

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of two tree frog species across 24 provinces in Turkiye. The study found 192 microplastic particles total, predominantly PET fibers, with significant geographic variation in contamination levels and microplastic characteristics, suggesting widespread environmental distribution of microplastic pollution across the region.

2026 Environmental Geochemistry and Health
Article Tier 2

Hazard assessment of microplastics and heavy metals contamination in Levant frogs (Pelophylax bedriagae): A bioindicator in Western Iran

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.

2024 Environmental Research 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Variation in microplastic characteristics among amphibian larvae: a comparative study across different species and the influence of human activity

Scientists examined microplastics inside amphibian larvae from 10 species and found plastic particles in all of them, with blue fibers being the most common type. Larger larvae tended to contain longer plastic fragments, and there was a relationship between human activity levels near habitats and the characteristics of the plastics found. This study shows that microplastic contamination has penetrated freshwater food webs, affecting animals during their most vulnerable developmental stages.

2024 Scientific Reports 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastic pollution in tadpoles living in small water-bodies from Rize, the northeast of Turkey

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution in tadpoles (Pelophylax ridibundus and Rana macrocnemis), sediments, and surface water from small water bodies in northeastern Turkey, finding MPs across all compartments with tadpole tissue containing 302.62-306.69 items per gram. PET, nylon, and polyacrylic were the dominant polymers in tadpoles, while PP and PE dominated sediments, highlighting microplastic transfer across freshwater and terrestrial habitats.

2020 Chemosphere 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal variation in the ingestion of microplastics in aquatic and terrestrial salamanders endemic to Türkiye

Researchers examined microplastic ingestion in both aquatic and land-dwelling salamander species across Turkey. They detected microplastics in about 34% of the 232 salamanders studied, with juvenile animals showing higher concentrations than adults, and fiber-shaped particles being most common. The study suggests that microplastic contamination affects amphibians regardless of whether they live in water or on land, indicating the pervasive reach of this pollution.

2024 Ecological Indicators 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of the Caucasian toad and its habitat at Karagöl Lake, Türkiye

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in Caucasian toads and their lake habitat in a protected area of Turkey. They found that nearly half the toads contained microplastics in their digestive tracts, mainly fibers likely linked to textile and recreational activities. The study shows that even remote, high-altitude environments are not safe from microplastic pollution, underscoring the need for monitoring in amphibian habitats.

2025 Environmental Research Communications 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts and transport of microplastics: Population dynamics in frogs and the transfer between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

Researchers studied how microplastics affect the development and survival of Japanese tree frogs and how frogs may transport plastics from water to land. They found that microplastic exposure did not significantly alter hatching or survival rates but did affect growth patterns. The study also demonstrates that as frogs metamorphose and move onto land, they carry ingested microplastics with them, creating a previously underappreciated pathway for plastic pollution to spread between ecosystems.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Same genus, same burden: Microplastic pollution in banded newts

Researchers examined microplastic ingestion in three species of banded newts from freshwater habitats across Turkey and found plastic particles in 29-43% of individuals. PET fibers were the most common type detected, with no significant differences between species despite their different habitats. The consistent contamination levels across all three species suggest that microplastic pollution is widespread in freshwater environments and that these amphibians may serve as useful indicators of water quality.

2025 Environmental Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Differential effects of microplastic exposure on anuran tadpoles: A still underrated threat to amphibian conservation?

Researchers found that microplastic exposure affects amphibian tadpoles differently depending on the species, with Italian agile frog tadpoles showing reduced survival at high concentrations while green toad tadpoles were more resilient.

2022 Environmental Pollution 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in larvae of toads, frogs and newts in anthropopressure gradient

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the larvae of toads, frogs, and newts across sites with varying levels of human activity in Poland. They found microplastics in larvae at all locations, with higher concentrations near urban and agricultural areas compared to natural habitats. The study raises concerns about how microplastic exposure during sensitive developmental stages may affect already-declining amphibian populations.

2023 Ecological Indicators 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as an emerging threat to amphibians: Current status and future perspectives

This review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in amphibians like frogs and salamanders, finding that over 80% of studied species had accumulated microplastics. The particles persisted in organs, showed toxic and gene-damaging effects, and could transfer through the food chain. Since amphibians are indicators of environmental health, widespread microplastic accumulation in these animals signals broader ecosystem contamination that can ultimately affect human food and water sources.

2024 Heliyon 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution and amphibian health: Complex physiological effects of different microplastic types on juvenile Glandirana rugosa

Researchers studied how polypropylene and polyethylene microplastics affect juvenile frogs and found significantly higher mortality rates in microplastic-exposed groups. The frogs showed elevated stress hormones, signs of oxidative damage, and elongated intestines, suggesting their bodies were trying to adapt to the particles. The study highlights that microplastics pose both physical and chemical risks to amphibians, which may contribute to population declines.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

First record of microplastic contamination in adult endemic amazonian anuran species

For the first time, researchers documented microplastic contamination in two frog species found only in the Amazon, examining their digestive, respiratory, and skin systems. Both species had significant microplastic contamination, with the skin and digestive tract showing the highest levels. This study is important because it shows microplastics have reached even remote Amazonian ecosystems and are contaminating amphibians, which serve as indicators of overall environmental health.

2025 Scientific Reports 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Identifying the presence of microplastics in frogs from the largest delta of the world

Researchers found microplastics in 90% of frogs collected from nine species across the Bengal delta, with fibers being the most common type — indicating that amphibians in this major river system are heavily exposed to plastic pollution, which may contribute to their global population decline.

2023 Environmental Advances 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Life on both environment in semi-aquatic frogs: Impact of aquatic microplastic (MP) from MP enrichment to growth, immune function and physiological stress

Researchers exposed juvenile black-spotted pond frogs to different concentrations of microplastics in water to study effects after metamorphosis. They found that microplastics accumulated primarily in the digestive tract and caused reduced growth, increased stress markers, and weakened immune function at higher concentrations. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in freshwater habitats could pose significant health risks to amphibians during vulnerable life stages.

2024 Chemosphere 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion by tadpoles of pond-breeding amphibians—first results from Central Europe (SW Poland)

This study found microplastics in the guts of tadpoles from five amphibian species collected from eight ponds in southwestern Poland, identifying polyethylene and polypropylene as the most common polymer types. The detection of microplastics in freshwater amphibian larvae in Central European ponds confirms that plastic pollution has reached small, inland water bodies and is affecting early developmental stages of amphibians.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Three Amphibian Species: Implications for Amphibian Ecosystems

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in tadpoles of three amphibian species collected from two Thai provinces, finding 26 microplastic particles — both fragments and fibers — across all species following hydrogen peroxide digestion and stereomicroscopic analysis. The banded bullfrog (Kaloula pulchra) carried the most particles (15), all fibers, indicating widespread environmental exposure even at early developmental stages.

2024 Thai Forest Ecological Research Journal 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Similarity of Microplastic Characteristics between Amphibian Larvae and Their Aquatic Environment

Researchers compared microplastic characteristics in amphibian larvae with those in their surrounding aquatic environment, finding similarities in size distribution and polymer types that confirm direct ingestion from water, providing a new bioindicator approach for freshwater microplastic monitoring.

2024 Animals 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Life in plastic, it's not fantastic: Sublethal effects of polyethylene microplastics ingestion throughout amphibian metamorphosis

African clawed frogs exposed to polyethylene microplastics throughout metamorphosis showed sublethal effects including reduced body condition and altered development timing, raising concerns that microplastic pollution may threaten amphibian populations already facing global decline.

2023 Figshare
Article Tier 2

The effects of a microplastic mixture on wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) across multiple life stages in an outdoor mesocosm experiment

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.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic accumulation in a lizard species: Observations from the terrestrial environments

Researchers examined 152 snake-eyed lizards from 18 populations in Turkey and found microplastics in the digestive tracts of about 22% of them. Fibers and fragments were the most common types, likely coming from synthetic textiles and plastic waste in the lizards' habitats. This is one of the first studies showing that microplastic contamination has spread to terrestrial reptiles, meaning land-based food chains are also affected.

2024 Environmental Pollution 16 citations