Effects of ambient UV-B radiation on early development of the common frog (Rana temporaria) embryos in the subarctic

Abstract

Several recent field experiments have demonstrated that ambient ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B; 280-315 nm) may cause severe mortality of amphibian embryos. We investigated the effects of ambient UV-B on early embryonic performance of the common frog (Rana temporaria) in subarctic Finland (ca. 69°03'N, 20°50'E), where levels of UV-B radiation during the egg laying period are roughly twice as high as those in southern Fennoscandia. We found no evidence for decreased embryonic mortality, decreased frequency of developmental anomalies or improved growth performance of embryos shielded from UV-B as compared with embryos exposed to ambient levels of UV-B. Our results concur with the results of earlier studies with this species conducted in more southern populations, and suggest that current UV-B levels alone are not likely to pose significant threat for the well being of subarctic common frog populations.