PCB Accumulation and Toxicokinetics in Amphibians: Accumulation Patterns' Regulation by Interspecific Differences and Toxicokinetics in Green Frogs (Rana clamitans) During Hibernation

This thesis examined contaminant accumulation in newly transformed amphibian young of year and elimination kinetics during amphibian hibernation.;Chapter 3 examined PCB elimination rates in hibernating Rana clamitans to determine if changes in chemical activity occurred during hibernation. Significant PCB elimination rates were observed for low K ow congeners, ranging from 0.0027 to 0.04 d-1. A negative correlation was found between Kow and elimination rate. There was an increase in fugacity of higher Kow compounds corresponding to a decrease in lipid content. PCBs in metabolic group 2 were preferentially eliminated over those in metabolic group 3.;Chapter 2 evaluated PCB concentrations in four amphibian species at five different locations to determine the importance of species specific processes in environmental chemical exposure and accumulation in amphibians. Lipid levels between species were highly variable. Significant interspecific differences in PCB concentrations suggest contaminant accumulation is regulated in part by physiological and biological processes.