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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America logoLink to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
. 1995 Nov 21;92(24):11049–11052. doi: 10.1073/pnas.92.24.11049

Synergism between UV-B radiation and a pathogen magnifies amphibian embryo mortality in nature.

J M Kiesecker 1, A R Blaustein 1
PMCID: PMC40568  PMID: 7479934

Abstract

Previous research has shown that amphibians have differential sensitivity to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation. In some species, ambient levels of UV-B radiation cause embryonic mortality in nature. The detrimental effects of UV-B alone or with other agents may ultimately affect amphibians at the population level. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a synergistic effect between UV-B radiation and a pathogenic fungus in the field that increases the mortality of amphibian embryos compared with either factor alone. Studies investigating single factors for causes of amphibian egg mortality or population declines may not reveal the complex factors involved in declines.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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