Influence of water temperature on acetylcholinesterase activity in the pacific tree frog ( Hyla regilla )

Catherine S. Johnson; Steven E. Schwarzbach; John D. Henderson; Barry W. Wilson; Ronald S. Tjeerdema

doi:10.1897/04-508r.1

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USGS · 1008315

Influence of water temperature on acetylcholinesterase activity in the pacific tree frog ( Hyla regilla )

Catherine S. Johnson·Steven E. Schwarzbach·John D. Henderson·Barry W. Wilson·Ronald S. Tjeerdema

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Abstract

This investigation evaluated whether acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in Pacific tree frogs ( Hyla regilla ) from different geographical locations was influenced by different temperatures during early aquatic life stages, independent of pesticide exposure. Tadpoles were collected from both a California coastal pond and a Sierra Nevada mountain range pond, USA. Groups of frogs from each location were raised in temperatures representative of either the Sierra Nevada (8°C) or the coastal (19°C) location. Metamorphs from both locations raised as tadpoles at 19°C had AChE activities of 42.3 and 38.7 nm/min/mg protein, while those raised as tadpoles at 8°C had activities of 26.9 and 28.2 nm/min/mg protein. A two-way analysis of variance revealed temperature to be the significant factor in determining AChE activity ( F = 22.3, p < 0.001), although origin was not important ( F = 0.09, p = 0.75). Interpretations regarding the influence of pesticides upon AChE activity in Pacific tree frogs must consider the influence of environmental temperature to enable cross-population comparisons.

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Catherine S. Johnson, Steven E. Schwarzbach, John D. Henderson, Barry W. Wilson, Ronald S. Tjeerdema. 2005-08-01. Influence of water temperature on acetylcholinesterase activity in the pacific tree frog ( Hyla regilla ). https://doi.org/10.1897/04-508r.1

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