Abstract:
Organic chemicals used in anthropogenic applications can persist in the environment because they resist degradation through chemical and biological processes. These chemicals can inadvertently affect non-target organisms that live in contaminated soil or water, such as amphibians. If amphibians are exposed to organic chemicals during crucial early life stages, it could lead to teratogenic (i.e., developmental) effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between contaminants in soil and sediment (e.g., herbicides and insecticides) and teratogenic limb malformations in adult spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) on Penn State Behrend’s campus. To date, soil and sediment were collected from salamander breeding locations on Behrend’s campus and extracted using 24-hr Tenax extractions. The extracts will be analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify and quantify contaminant concentrations within the samples. The quantified contaminant concentrations will then be compared to limb deformity rates in adult spotted salamanders collected during previous years and 2022 breeding season to understand correlations between contamination and teratogenicity. Spotted salamanders are an indicator species, which means that the health and state of salamander populations on campus reflect the health of the rest of the ecosystem. As such, this study stands as a case study to better understand the role of organic contaminants in the health of amphibian populations in urban areas.
Team Members
Olivia Hodgson | (Samuel Nutile) | Penn State Behrend
Download the Project Summary
