Behavior of tadpoles of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, in response to sublethal lead exposure

Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, tadpoles were exposed to 0 (control), 500, 625, 750 or 1 000 μg Pb·1 −1 (as lead nitrate) for six days (144 h). Preference/avoidance responses to plumes of Pb-contaminated water and spontaneous locomotor activity were assessed for non-exposed and Pb-exposed tadpoles. No significant differences were seen in preference/avoidance responses to Pb by either non-exposed or Pb-exposed animals, nor were there significant effects of Pb on spontaneous locomotor activity. There was, however, significantly greater variability in activity of bullfrog tadpoles ( P