The Paraná River basin is one of the most important in South America and is affected by human activities that take place on its margins. In particular, the De la Cruz stream flows through an industrial pole and the Arrecifes River goes mainly through agricultural fields. The aim of this study was to evaluate the water quality of the De la Cruz stream (S1) and the Arrecifes River (S2) by means of physicochemical parameters, including metals and pesticides concentrations. Since amphibians are good indicators of environmental quality, bioassays with Rhinella arenarum were carried on. For lethal and sublethal parameters, embryos and larvae were exposed to a dilution gradient of water samples and AMPHITOX Solution (AS) as negative control for 504 h. For the determination of oxidative stress biomarkers (Catalase -CAT-, Glutathione S-Transferase -GST-, Reduced Glutathione -GSH-, and lipid peroxidation -TBARS-), embryos and larvae were exposed to undiluted water samples and AS. For the determination of micronuclei, larvae at hind limb bud stage (S.28) were exposed to undiluted water samples, simultaneously with negative and positive controls (AS and cyclophosphamide 40 mg/L, respectively). Dissolved oxygen was low in both sites and the copper levels exceeded the Argentine limit for the protection of aquatic life. In embryos exposure, water sample from S1 caused lethal effects (504h-LC50 = 49 (28–71.6)%), increased TBARS levels, and GST and CAT activities. In larvae exposure, water sample from this site decreased CAT activity, while the water sample from S2 caused important lethal effects (504h-LC50 = 98.72 (60.60–302.52)%), low GSH levels and increased GST activity. Water samples from both sites induced higher micronuclei frequency than the negative control. This study alerts about the degradation of water quality of the studied sites including lethal and sublethal effects in R. arenarum that can jeopardize the native populations of this species. | Fil: Peluso, Julieta. Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM). Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. | Fil: Aronzon, Carolina Mariel. Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM). Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina. | Fil: Ríos de Molina, María del Carmen. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. | Fil: Rojas, Dante Emanuel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Instituto de Química Biológica; Argentina. | Fil: Cristos, Diego Sebastian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Instituto de Química Biológica; Argentina. | Fil: Pérez Coll, Cristina Silvia. Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM). Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.

Los Anfibios y Reptiles como bioindicadores del estado de los ecosistemas, se han visto arraigados a un segundo plano, puesto que la mayoría de investigaciones se enfocan en monitoreos fisicoquímicos y de comunidades hidrobiológicas. En Colombia dentro de los Estudios de Impacto Ambiental y los Planes de Manejo Ambiental, integran la información del estado de los ecosistemas y los posibles impactos que se pueden generar durante la ejecución de megaproyectos. Los Anfibios y Reptiles como bioindicadores de los ecosistemas representan ventajas, ya que según lo documentado en bibliografía son acumuladores de contaminantes que no son evidentes en otros organismos. Este artículo documental parte de una metodología descriptiva, en la que se realizó la revisión de algunos documentos que evidencian las ventajas del uso de dichos grupos faunísticos como indicadores biológicos y por otra parte una fase de entrevista a expertos con experiencia en temas ambientales y herpetológicos. Llegando a la conclusión que en el país es viable este tipo de integración de bioindicadores en los Planes de Manejo Ambiental más no en los Estudios de Impacto Ambiental; y se reafirma que la implementación de este tipo de estudios a futuro podría promover nueva producción científica. | Amphibians and Reptiles as bioindicators of the state of ecosystems have been ingrained in the background since most research focuses on physicochemical monitoring and hydrobiological communities. In Colombia, within the Environmental Impact Studies and Environmental Management Plans, both the information on the state of the ecosystems and the possible impacts that may occur during the execution of Megaprojects are integrated. Amphibians and Reptiles as bioindicators of ecosystems represent advantages as documented in the bibliography are accumulators of pollutants that are not evident in other organisms. This documentary article is based on a descriptive methodology, in which a review was made of some documents that show the advantages of using these faunistic groups as biological indicators and, on the other hand, an interview phase with experts with experience in environmental and herpetological subjects. Concluding that in the country, it is viable this type of integration of bioindicators in the Environmental Management Plans, but not in the Environmental Impact Studies; and it is reaffirmed that the implementation of this type of studies in the future could promote new scientific production.