Effects of lead-contaminated surface water from a trap and skeet range on frog hatching and development

Pickerel frogs (Rana palustris) and bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) were exposed from the egg stage to lead-contaminated surface water from a trap and skeet range. Seven experimental treatments were employed: 25, 50, 75 and 100% range water, 100% range water plus a chelating agent (sodium citrate), control water and control water plus chelating agent. Total lead concentrations in 100% range water treatments varied from 840–3150 μg litre−1, with the filterable form accounting for approximately 4–5% of the total. Hatching was not affected in either species (p > 0.2). There were highly significant differences in mortality among treatments for R. palustris (p = 0.0001), with tadpoles exhibiting 100 and 98% mortality after 10 d of exposure to 100 and 75% range water, respectively. Mortality in the 100% range water + citrate treatment was similar to controls (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in mortality among treatments for R. catesbeiana after 10 d of exposure (p = 0.7119). Exposure to lead in the range water did not adversely affect the growth of surviving R. palustris or R. catesbeiana tadpoles after 14 weeks and 10 weeks, respectively. In both species, the intestinal mucosa in tadpoles exposed to range water was reduced in thickness. Scanning electron micrographs of R. palustris tadpoles that died in 100% range water revealed stunted tail growth, incurvation of the spine, hydropsy and generally reduced body size.