Effects of parental radiation exposure on developmental instability in grasshoppers

Abstract

Mutagenic and epigenetic effects of environmental stressors and their transgenerational consequences are of interest to evolutionary biologists because they can amplify natural genetic variation. We studied the effect of parental exposure to radioactive contamination on offspring development in lesser marsh grasshopper Chorthippus albomarginatus. We used a geometric morphometric approach to measure fluctuating asymmetry (FA), wing shape and wing size. We measured time to sexual maturity to check whether parental exposure to radiation influenced offspring developmental trajectory and tested effects of radiation on hatching success and parental fecundity. Wings were larger in early maturing individuals born to parents from high radiation sites compared to early maturing individuals from low radiation sites. As time to sexual maturity increased, wing size decreased but more sharply in individuals from high radiation sites. Radiation exposure did not significantly affect FA or shape in wings nor did it significantly affect hatching success and fecundity. Overall, parental radiation exposure can adversely affect offspring development and fitness depending on developmental trajectories although the cause of this effect remains unclear. We suggest more direct measures of fitness and the inclusion of replication in future studies to help further our understanding of the relationship between developmental instability, fitness and environmental stress.

Radiation exposure causes developmental alterations in size and shape of wings and structures associated with song production in male crickets (Acheta domesticus)

“…Fluctuating asymmetry has also been indicated as a general indicator of individual quality (Lajus et al, 2015). However, these results are contrary to recent literature on radiation impacts on fluctuating asymmetry in grasshoppers in areas surrounding Chernobyl (Beasley et al, 2012). Beasley et al (2012) indicated no radiation‐induced differences in levels of fluctuating asymmetry in the Chernobyl grasshoppers exposed to several chronic low doses (0.03–50.06 µSv h −1 ).…”

“…Critical impacts of radiation include impacts on gonads, heritable mutations, and developmental abnormalities (ICRP, 2008). Mutagenic and epigenetic effects can also have transgenerational consequences, providing a source for heritable phenotypic variation (Beasley et al, 2012). Compared to vertebrates, data on invertebrates have been sparse and poorly characterized, even though invertebrates represent ca.…”

“…90% of animal life on earth (ICRP, 2008; Møller & Mousseau, 2009; Dallas et al, 2012). Most reproductive knowledge of radiation impacts on invertebrates is associated with pest control using the sterile insect technique (SIT) (Bakri et al, 2005; Klassen & Curtis, 2005; Beasley et al, 2012). Doses utilized in the SIT range greatly depend on the species of interest, but can range from 4 to 400 Gy (Dyck et al, 2005).…”

Spatiotemporal abnormality dynamics of the pale grass blue butterfly: three years of monitoring (2011–2013) after the Fukushima nuclear accident

“…Adaptation to radiation stress has been reported in the literature. For example, transgenerational developmental responses to radiation have been documented in grasshoppers in Chernobyl [ 20 ], and possible adaptation to oxidative stress in birds as a consequence of the Chernobyl accident has been reported recently [ 21 ]. In regions with high natural radiation levels, radiation resistance has been observed in Drosophila [ 22 ] and other organisms [ 23 ].…”

Study of the migration behaviours of imidazoline corrosion inhibitor in concrete using UV–vis spectrophotometry

“…[26,27] 2 | EXPERIMENTAL Mortar for making the concrete specimens was prepared using ordinary Portland cement, river sand, and distilled water at a weight ratio of 1:2.5:0.5. [28,29] The mortar was put into moulds with dimensions 100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm, and Q235 steel rods, diameter 10 mm, were placed in the centres of the moulds subsequently, and used for electromigration experiments. The concrete specimens were demoulded 24 h later, covered with wet towels for 7 days, and cured at room temperature for 28 days.…”