Chornobyl Dark coloured tree frogs

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the potential effects of ionizing radiation on the coloration of tree frogs in the Chornobyl area, specifically examining the hypothesis that darker pigmentation may have been favored due to survival advantages in high radiation environments. The conversation includes references to related studies and ecological implications following the Chernobyl disaster.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that melanin pigmentation in tree frogs may serve as a buffering mechanism against ionizing radiation, suggesting that darker coloration could be linked to higher survival rates in high radiation conditions.
  • Variability in coloration among tree frogs, including dark individuals, is noted, with some dark individuals found outside the Chornobyl area, indicating that selective processes may have acted on existing color variability.
  • One participant points out the different spellings of "Chernobyl" and "Chornobyl," attributing them to Russian and Ukrainian origins, respectively.
  • Another participant mentions the authors of the study being affiliated with universities outside Ukraine, which raises questions about the context of the research.
  • There is a reference to industrial melanism as a phenomenon where industrialization influences natural selection, suggesting parallels with the Chornobyl case.
  • A later post introduces a related study focusing on the Eastern tree frog and its aging, telomere length, and corticosterone levels, expanding the scope of the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying viewpoints on the implications of the study and the factors influencing coloration in tree frogs. There is no consensus on the interpretations or conclusions drawn from the findings, and multiple competing views remain present.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to ecological impacts and studies that may have limitations based on geographical and biological contexts. The influence of industrialization on natural selection is mentioned but not fully explored within the thread.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in ecology, evolutionary biology, the effects of radiation on wildlife, and the Chornobyl disaster's environmental impact may find this discussion relevant.

pinball1970
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TL;DR
The Chornobyl accident (1986) represents the largest release of radioactive material to the environment. Our aim was to examine how exposure to radiation from the Chornobyl accident influences dorsal skin coloration of Eastern tree frog
"..melanin pigmentation has been proposed as a buffering mechanism against ionizing radiation.
Our results suggest that exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation, likely at the time of the accident, may have been selected for darker coloration in Chornobyl tree frogs."

Part of the discussion

“Variability in coloration, including dark or grey individuals, is often described in tree frogs of the Hyla genus
In our study, dark individuals were also detected (although in very low proportions) in localities outside the Chornobyl area
It is, thus, plausible that selective processes acting on existing colour variability favoured individuals with darker coloration,
linked to higher survival rates in dark frogs under extremely high radiation conditions shortly after the accident.”

The paper.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/eva.13476

Further reading about Chernobyl as a unique Ecosystem, demonstrating the resurgence of rare species and increase in biodiversity.

https://www.euronews.com/green/2021...nuclear-disaster-was-an-environmental-success

Related study.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982215009884
 
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"Chernobyl" is from the Russian spelling.
"Chornobyl" is from the Ukrainian spelling.
 
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.Scott said:
"Chernobyl" is from the Russian spelling.
"Chornobyl" is from the Ukrainian spelling.
The authors are connected with different Universities, Sweden, Spain Glasgow not Ukraine.

The frog and study are in the Ukraine so that makes sense.

There are examples where industrialization has influenced natural selection in terms of melanin in the eco system

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_melanism
 

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