Case Study 2B - Aquatic/terrestrial (amphibians)

Pollutant transfer and effects in the interface between aquatic and terrestrial environments

Institutions: UCLM, CSIC

CS Coordinators: Ana López-Antia, Silvia Lacorte, Manuel Ortiz-Santaliestra

  • Objectives / Hypothesis

Address how environmental pollutants, and their effects, return from water to land, to provide a reference scenario for an aquatic-terrestrial combined risk assessment

  • Description of the case study

The CS 2B aims to assess the impact of agrochemical runoff from surrounding agricultural lands on amphibian populations and their ecosystem. 

This is achieved by modelling pollutant transport to ponds, determining pollutant levels in water and amphibians, evaluating the effects of these pollutants on amphibian health and behaviour, and monitoring changes in amphibian populations and their ecological interactions.

Case Study Goal

  • Exposure assessment: Estimates of pollutant inputs to ponds

  • Effect assessment 

    - Food reduction

    - Pollutant mobilization effects

    - Trophic transfer of accumulated pollutants

    - Late effects of early exposure

  • Biodiversity monitoring - Characterization of amphibian community, as well as those of prey and predators of amphibians

  • Involved stakeholders

  1. Spanish and European herpetological NGOs (AHE, SEH)

  2. Spanish crop protection association (AEPLA)

  3. Farmers associations (ASAJA)

  4. Regional and national authorities with competence in environment and agriculture

  5. Office for registration of PPP in Spain (INIA)

  • Locations

Description:

Water bodies and their surroundings located in agricultural-dominated landscapes in central Spain.