It can be assumed that after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, life should have died out in the area affected by radiation, however, as it turned out, many species were able to adapt.
This information was reported by the IFLScience resource, reports “URA- Inform.”
Scientists note the characteristics of some frogs, especially their ability to quickly adapt to a radiation environment by changing the color of their skin. Typically green, eastern tree frogs were found in the Chernobyl zone with a black skin tone, which is not typical of their normal appearance.
Researchers studied these frogs for three years and found that individuals from the Chernobyl zone had a more dark in color compared to those who lived outside it. This change likely provides additional protection from radiation.
Higher amounts of melanin in the skin of these frogs, found in darker individuals, may serve as a protective mechanism against ionizing radiation. Scientists also note that dark skin color is observed in frogs found in areas with high levels of radiation, which indicates the influence of radiation on coloration.
Given the fact that almost 40 years have passed since the disaster and this time was about 10-15 generations of frogs; scientists continue to study how these creatures adapted to life in conditions of increased radiation.
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