An in-situ amphibian metamorphosis assay to evaluate oil spill-related toxicity in receiving fresh water environments

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Recently the Royal Society of Canada identified major knowledge gaps regarding oil spill into freshwater systems in their report "The Behaviour and Environmental Impacts of Crude Oil Released into Aqueous Environments" (RSC 2015). The panel's recommendations for future research includes, 1) the development and improvement of oil spill remediation/reclamation methods, and 2) research on the efficacy of remediation methods, especially in freshwater and arctic ecosystems.For the proposed industry partner, Lorax Environmental Services Ltd. (Lorax), some of the major services they offer to aid in evaluating the toxic effects of anthropogenic compounds introduced into receiving aquatic systems, are remediation, treatment, water quality modelling and environmental assessment (EA). Lorax seeks to implement new, scientifically proven methods to aid assessing the health of aquatic ecosystems. This research project will establish an amphibian metamorphosis assay to serve as indicator of health and recovery for freshwater ecosystems, which can be applied to sites at risk and/or post oil-spill remediation. Amphibian larvae are especially sensitive to environmental contaminants as they are readily exposed to them both orally, and through skin absorption. Moreover, frog development from tadpole to adult is a highly complicated process which is orchestrated by complex hormonal interactions. This hormone system is preserved in all higher vertebrates and is sensitive to contaminants from petroleum products. Thus, frogs are excellent bioindicators for petroleum-related toxicity in their habitat. This research will aid in testing effectiveness of remediation methods using frog tadpoles as sentinels for oil-related toxicity. The energy industry will benefit from this method when performing EAs in receiving, freshwater ecosystems. In addition, this study will aid to monitor ecosystem recovery post-spill, and as well, will be useful to other researchers studying related amphibian population health, in light of the global decline of this group.