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Radiation and Reptiles, etc.?
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by Puma3 on September 2, 2007
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I was wondering if anyone on this site has any info on the effects of radiation on reptiles and amphibians?
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RE: Radiation and Reptiles, etc.?
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by Puma3 on September 3, 2007
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If no one can answer my question, I will try. My educated guess is that reptiles would cope with radiation fairly well, better than most life forms. I'm not so sure about amphibians, though.
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RE: Radiation and Reptiles, etc.?
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by earthguy on September 4, 2007
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I just read your post. There are several different forms of radiation. The effects of UV radiation on amphibians are well documented (for a good synopsis read Amphibian Conservation ed. by Ray Semlitsch). Reptiles are a different matter all together. Some of my professors spend time in and around Chernobyl, but none of them studies reptiles (russia isn't exactly a reptile paradise any way).
So why do you think that reptiles would be less effected?
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RE: Radiation and Reptiles, etc.?
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by Puma3 on September 4, 2007
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I am theorizing that their scales would give some protection. Also the fact that they are cold-blooded may be of benefit. But I think their most important advantage is their habitats. Many reptiles live in protected micro-environments which could serve as natural fall-out shelters or bunkers.
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RE: Radiation and Reptiles, etc.?
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by earthguy on September 4, 2007
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I assume, then, that you are referring to ionizing radiation. Scales would offer protection against alpha (and to a lesser degree beta) radiation. Scales would be no match against gamma radiation. Skin and fur would probably offer comperable protection. As to the microhabitats, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals all often share their microhabitats (if you flip a log you are-all things considered-equally likely to disturb each of the previously mentioned orders). I also can't seem to follow your reasoning as to how an animal's thermal behavior ("cold blooded" vs. "warm blooded") would be any benefit/detriment to them. I'm not saying that you're wrong, I'm just trying to follow your logic. As soon as I get a chance I'll do a perfunctory literature search to see if anything pops up.
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RE: Radiation and Reptiles, etc.?
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by earthguy on September 5, 2007
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D'oh! Ok, so maybe godzilla would be immune. But wasn't he more closely related to the avian family (if memory serves, he followed a flock of birds out to sea...)
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RE: Radiation and Reptiles, etc.?
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by AquaHerp on September 5, 2007
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True! And......he was surprisingly well built for being made in Japan! They just don't make 'em like that anymore.
DH
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RE: Radiation and Reptiles, etc.?
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by LarryDFishel on September 6, 2007
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Ah, but Godzilla would tend to suggest the opposite. He was after all, a mutated marine iguana... In fact, I seem to remember him battling a number of other giant reptiles. I don't remember any giant frogs or salamanders though (in Godzilla movies). And then of course, there's the Giant Gila Monster!
On a slightly more serious note, depending on what you really mean when you say "radiation"... If what you really mean is the effects of fallout from nuclear weapons or a power plant accident, I would expect amphibians to be especially hard hit because whatever radio active contaminants are around will quickly find their way into the water...
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