Impact of environmentally relevant concentrations of glyphosate on Boana faber tadpoles exposed in the laboratory: morphological and functional markers.

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of a glyphosate-based herbicide on the oxidative balance, energy metabolism, and body condition indices in tadpoles of Boana faber. Anuran spawns were collected, and after hatching and reaching Gosner stage 25, they were acclimated and exposed (168hours) to concentrations of glyphosate (G1: 65, G2: 260, and G3: 520µg/L). The body condition markers revealed a significant decrease in all these biomarkers in G2 and G3. Tadpoles exposed to the highest concentration of glyphosate showed an increase in superoxide dismutase activity and the maintenance of lipoperoxidation levels. Carbonyl proteins of animals of G1 and G2 groups showed a reduction that coincides with increased catalase activity. Glycogen decreased in all exposed groups, indicating that this polysaccharide was used for energy production. The body condition markers established here are a non-invasive and promising way of assessing the health status of animals.