Elemental Composition in Two Water Beetles (Dytiscus thianschanicus, Dytiscus persicus) (Dytiscidae: Coleoptera) as Revealed by WDXRF Spectroscopy

Abstract

In this study, concentrations of 34 different inorganic elements between Dytiscus thianschanicus and Dytiscus persicus collected from the environs of five Turkish cities were measured by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The two species were found to differ in both elemental composition and amount. The concentrations of Na, As, Br and Ba were found to differ significantly between D. thianschanicus and D. persicus. In addition, Mn and I concentrations for D. thianschanicus and Si, Zn for D. persicus between males and females were statistically significant. It is thought that metabolic differences between males and females of these insects may be behind the observed differences in these species. Differences in elemental composition were also seen between beetles from different localities, and the content of non-essential elements in an insect's body may be a useful measure of the level of these elements in their habitats.