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. 2023 Jan;42(1):213-224.
doi: 10.1002/etc.5514. Epub 2022 Dec 9.

Assessing the Impact of Chemical Algae Management Strategies on Anurans and Aquatic Communities

Courtney Dvorsky  1 , Kambrie Riddle  1 , Michelle Boone  1
Affiliations

Assessing the Impact of Chemical Algae Management Strategies on Anurans and Aquatic Communities

Courtney Dvorsky et al. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Pond management with chemical and biological agents that reduce overgrowth of algae is an important means of maintaining water quality in residential ponds, yet the effects on nontarget species are not fully understood. We assessed the impact of Aquashade (a common nontoxic pond dye) and copper sulfate (a toxic algaecide) on American toad (Anaxyrus americanus), northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens), and Cope's gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) metamorphosis in outdoor mesocosm experiments. We also evaluated the relative impact of tadpole grazing versus chemical treatment on phytoplankton and periphyton abundance. We found no significant effects of pond management treatment on anuran metamorphosis, suggesting that addition of Aquashade and copper sulfate at tested concentrations does not significantly impact anurans under these experimental conditions. Interestingly, we found that the presence of tadpoles more strongly reduced algal abundance than Aquashade or copper sulfate by significantly decreasing phytoplankton and periphyton abundance over time. The present study suggests that anuran tadpoles may be effective at maintaining water quality, and that Aquashade and copper sulfate may have minimal effects on amphibian metamorphosis. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:213-224. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Keywords: Aquashade; algae; amphibians; copper; management.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The experimental design for 2017 (A) and 2019 (B). In 2017 there were five treatments: two pond management treatments (Aquashade [A] and copper sulfate [C]) and two doses (high and low), with one control with no treatment; each treatment had five mesocosm replicates. In 2019, there were six total treatments: two pond management treatments (Aquashade and copper sulfate), two tadpole treatments (present or absent), and two control treatments; each treatment had four mesocosm replicates.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Average light intensity at the bottom of the mesocosm (0.37 cm) by pond management treatments. Mesocosms set up during spring breeders 2017 (A), summer 2017 mesocosms (B), and 2019 mesocosms (C). Plotted values are means + standard error. Significant differences were observed between Aquashade and control treatments, with Aquashade being significantly decreased.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Anuran endpoints for both experiments: average mass at metamorphosis (A), average time to metamorphosis (B), and proportion of survival (C). Plotted values are means + standard error. No significant differences were observed in any anuran endpoint regardless of species, pond management treatment or year.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Average phytoplankton (A) and periphyton abundance (B) with tadpole presence over time (experimental days). Plotted values are means + standard error. Tadpole presence significantly decreased periphyton and phytoplankton abundance over time.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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