Invasive species threaten biodiversity by disrupting biological interactions. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)isrecognized as one of the world’s top 100 weed species and among the ten worst aquatic weeds. This study examines theimpact of extracts from this non-native invas ive plant on the survival, growth, and metamorphosis of Bufotes sitibunduslarvae, a species of anuran amphibian. Due to the presence of phenolic compounds and heavy metals, invasive plants cansignificantly affect anuran development, yet these threats remain largely unstudied in amphibians. We observed increasedmortality in larva e exposed to water hyacinth extracts, which we attribute to reduced oxygen availability link ed to highconcentrations of phenolic compounds, such as (E)-23-ethylcholesta-5,22-dien-3.bet a.-ol and 3-Hydroxyspirost-8-en-11-one, as well as the terpenoid gibberellin A3. These phenolic compounds may impair gill function, contr ibuting to decreasedsurvival rates. Additionally, the presence o f heavy metals in the extracts adversely impacts survival, growth, body length,and metamorphosis. The invasive water hyacinth can lead to significant alterations in pond ecosystems, producing bothdirect and indirect effects on amphibian survival. Our findings offer crucial insights into the effects of water hyacinth extractson amphibians, encompassing egg development, growth, mortality, and metamorphosis, potentially impacting the biologyand ecology of Bufotes sitibund us during the critical developmental stages.
