Hidric stress and immune response in frogs (Rhinella ornata) inhabiting Atlantic Forest fragments

• Grant number: 16/05024-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Physiology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
• Grantee: Adriana Maria Giorgi Barsotti
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/16320-7 - Impacts of climate/environmental change on the fauna: an integrative approach, AP.PFPMCG.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/23661-6 - Challenges of invasion front: Water balance, stress and immunity in Sclerophrys gutturalis, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Populations of amphibians are suffering decline and/or extinction due to climate change and anthropogenic actions. Among several causes, habitat loss and fragmentation and infection by pathogens have been identified as key drivers of extinction. The interaction between these two factors also present negative consequences, such as reduced immune function. In addition, some studies show that amphibians living in fragmented habitats and infected by pathogens, display an increase in corticosterone plasma levels. Moreover, chronic activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenals (HHI) can inhibit important long-term processes, such as immunocompetence. Due to the edge effect, fragmentation can also increase amphibian dehydration rates, associated with the increased fluctuation of abiotic conditions on the edge of the forest. As the habitat fragmentation stimulates the release of corticosterone and can lead to immune suppression, the present study will evaluate the following hypotheses: 1) dehydration is a stressor to frogs and the stress response depends on the level of dehydration; 2) environmental fragmentation leads to microclimatic changes resulting in increased dehydration levels, consequently generating a response to chronic stress. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GIORGI BARSOTTI, ADRIANA MARIA; TITON JUNIOR, BRAZ; MONTEIRO TITON, STEFANNY CHRISTIE; GOMES, FERNANDO RIBEIRO. Dehydration as a stressor in toads (Rhinella ornata). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART A-ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, v. 331, n. 3, p. 168-174, MAR 2019. (13/00900-1, 16/05024-3, 14/16320-7)

MONTEIRO TITON, STEFANNY CHRISTIE; TITON JR, BRAZ; GIORGI BARSOTTI, ADRIANA MARIA; GOMES, FERNANDO RIBEIRO; ASSIS, VANIA REGINA. Time-related immunomodulation by stressors and corticosterone transdermal application in toads. PLoS One, v. 14, n. 9, SEP 20 2019. (14/16320-7, 11/10560-8, 16/05024-3)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BARSOTTI, Adriana Maria Giorgi. Effects of dehydration on glucocorticoid secretion and immune function in toads. 2021. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) São Paulo.