Effects of ultraviolet radiation on amphibians: Field experiments

Numerous reports suggest that populations of amphibians from a wide variety of locations are experiencing population declines and/or range reductions. In some cases, unusually high egg mortality has been reported. Field exper iments have been used with increasing frequency to investigate ultraviolet radiation as one of the potential factors contributing to these declines. R esults from field experiments illustrate that hatching success of eggs is h ampered by ultraviolet radiation in a number of species, while other specie s appear to be unaffected. Continued mortality in early life-history stages may ultimately contribute to a population decline. Although UV-B radiation may not contribute to the population declines of all species, it may play a role in the population decline of some species, especially those that lay eggs in open shallow water subjected to solar radiation and in those that have a poor ability to repair UV-induced DNA damage.