The study found that darker frogs were primarily associated with proximity to radiation hotspots shortly after the disaster, suggesting rapid natural selection for darker pigmentation in the early post-accident period.

Measurements showed that frogs inside the zone are on average 43.6% darker than those outside, and this trait appears stable and inherited, rather than a quick reversible response to current radiation levels.

The dark coloration in these frogs is linked to increased melanin, which helps protect cells from radiation damage by absorbing energy and managing reactive molecules, providing a survival advantage.

The findings suggest that the dark pigmentation trait, once rare, has become common in the population due to its survival benefit during high radiation levels, and this adaptation persists even as radiation diminishes.

Current radiation levels in the zone have decreased significantly, and recent studies indicate that ongoing radiation exposure does not impact the frogs' age, telomere length, or stress hormone levels, implying that the selection for dark pigmentation occurred early after the accident.

This research offers valuable insights into rapid evolutionary responses to environmental crises and has potential applications in materials science, such as developing radiation shielding inspired by melanin, emphasizing the importance of genetic and physiological studies to understand adaptation mechanisms in polluted environments.

Since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on April 26, 1986, the surrounding exclusion zone has become a refuge for wildlife, with studies indicating stable or increasing populations and notable adaptations in amphibians.

Research by Pablo Burraco and his team focused on Eastern tree frogs (Hyla orientalis) near contaminated sites, revealing that frogs from the most radioactive areas are significantly darker than those outside the zone.