Long-term salinity exposure reveals site-specific physiological and behavioral responses in coastal and inland toads

This dataset is relative to a study investigating the long-term
physiological and behavioral responses of adult Bufo spinosus (spined
toads) to chronic environmental salinity: “Long-term salinity exposure
reveals site-specific physiological and behavioral responses in coastal
and inland toads”. The experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of 7-month
exposure to freshwater (0 g.l-1), moderate (2 g.l-1) or high (4 g.l-1)
salinity levels, simulating current and future scenarios of habitat
salinization. Toads were collected from two distinct populations: coastal
(naturally salt-exposed) and inland (naïve to salinity), and acclimated in
freshwater prior to treatment. A wide range of metrics was recorded before
and after treatment, including size, plasma hormone levels (testosterone,
triiodothyronine), plasma osmolality, relative telomere length, and other
where measured only after treatment: metabolic rate, thermal preference,
cutaneous evaporative water loss, immune parameters (NL ratio), and
several behavioral traits such as defensiveness, activity, and prey
capture efficiency. The dataset allows for assessment of both population
differences and salinity treatment effects on adult amphibians. These data
contribute to understanding the physiological cost and potential adaptive
mechanisms to chronic salinity stress.