Patterns of Development and Abnormalities among Tadpoles in a Constructed Wetland Receiving Treated Wastewater

Constructed wetlands are promoted for effectiveness at treating wastewater and potential value as wildlife habitat; however, wildlife performance studies in treated wastewater wetlands are limited. We used repeated surveys of larval amphibians along three wetland systems and four reference sites to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2010-07, Vol.44 (13), p.4862-4868
Main Authors: Ruiz, Alina M, Maerz, John C, Davis, Andrew K, Keel, M. Kevin, Ferreira, Andrew R, Conroy, Michael J, Morris, Lawrence A, Fisk, Aaron T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Aquatic plants
Calcinosis - etiology
Calcium
Characterization of Natural and Affected Environments
Conservation of Natural Resources
Environmental Exposure
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Environmental Pollutants
Georgia
Habitats
Larva - physiology
Metamorphosis, Biological
Reference Values
Reptiles & amphibians
Scoliosis
Time Factors
Tissues
Waste Disposal, Fluid
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water Purification - methods
Water treatment
Wetlands
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Summary:Constructed wetlands are promoted for effectiveness at treating wastewater and potential value as wildlife habitat; however, wildlife performance studies in treated wastewater wetlands are limited. We used repeated surveys of larval amphibians along three wetland systems and four reference sites to test the hypothesis that bullfrog tadpoles exposed to direct inputs of treated wastewater develop slower, show a higher frequency of abnormalities, and are smaller at metamorphosis compared to tadpoles from reference ponds. Bullfrog tadpoles from wastewater wetlands were similar in size at metamorphosis compared to tadpoles from reference sites; however, they did show a much higher frequency of abnormalities including severe edema, scoliosis, and extreme calcinosis of soft tissues. Calcinosis was novel to the literature on amphibian abnormalities, the most frequent abnormality, and restricted exclusively to treatment wetlands. Within the constructed wetlands, tadpole development was slower and the frequency of scoliosis and calcinosis was higher in those cells receiving direct inputs of treated wastewater. Our results suggest that portions of constructed wetlands that directly receive treated wastewater may be poor amphibian habitat.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es903785x