Ecotoxicology in Amphibians and Reptiles: Mechanisms, Impacts, and Conservation Perspectives

Amphibians and reptiles are among the most threatened vertebrate groups worldwide, facing multiple stressors that highly jeopardize their survival. Although the impacts of environmental contaminants on herpetofauna are being investigated, it still remains quite underexplored compared to other taxa. Understanding the effects of pesticides and other contaminant on amphibians and reptiles, and their mechanisms to cope with these stressors are critical not only to fill the knowledge gap on this subject, but also for assessing ecosystem health and guiding conservation strategies.

The goal of this Research Topic is to advance our understanding of how environmental contaminants impact amphibians and reptiles at multiple biological and ecological scales. Despite their ecological importance and sensitivity to pollutants, these taxa are often overlooked in ecotoxicological research and risk assessments. We aim to bridge this gap by promoting interdisciplinary studies that link contaminant exposure to individual, population, and ecosystem-level effects. By integrating field, laboratory, and modelling approaches, we hope to contribute to a more holistic understanding of ecotoxicology in amphibians and reptiles and to support evidence-based conservation and environmental policies.

We welcome original research, reviews, perspectives, and methodological contributions addressing any aspect of amphibian and reptile ecotoxicology.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Contaminant exposure assessment and risk evaluation

• Biomarker discovery and validation

• Bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, and contaminant metabolism

• Interactions between pollutants and other environmental stressors

• Reproductive, developmental, behavioural, and ecological effects

• Conservation implications of contaminant exposure

This Research Topic aims to shed light on recent advances in understanding how these vertebrates respond to chemical stress, emphasizing their unique physiology and ecological niches. All contributions should provide fresh insights and appeal to a broad readership in herpetofauna ecotoxicology. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary studies that integrate molecular biology, physiology, ecology, and modelling approaches. Contributions that connect laboratory experiments with field data or translate ecotoxicological findings into conservation and management practices are highly valued.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Herpetofauna, Environmental stressors, Bioaccumulation, Conservation, Biomarkers, Ecophysiology, Xenobiotics

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.