Morphologic and Growth Responses in Chironomus tentans to Arsenic Exposure

Abstract

Laboratory bioassays consisting of sediments spiked with three concentrations (30, 130, and 260 microg g-1 As dry wt) of arsenic (As+3) were used to assess morphologic responses and growth in Chironomus tentans larvae. Chironomid larvae were raised in contaminated sediments from egg stage to emergence, and mouthpart abnormalities, larval length, and larval head width were used as end points to determine differences between metal-spiked and control specimens. C. tentans exhibited significantly higher mouthpart deformity proportions, smaller body sizes, smaller head widths, and slower development than control larvae. Our results demonstrate a dose-response relationship between As and mentum deformities in C. tentans. However, the proportion of deformed larvae did not increase with time in the treatment tanks. Results demonstrate that As induces mouthpart abnormalities at various concentrations. This research provides more support for the use of chironomid abnormalities as a tool for the assessment of heavy-metal pollution in aquatic systems.

Tolerance to individual and joint effects of arsenic and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis or Lysinibacillus sphaericus in Culex mosquitoes

“…Mogren et al (2012) found significant reductions in the reproductive capacity of Chironomus riparius (Diptera: Chironomidae) females, as well as an increase in the time between male and female emergence. Martinez et al (2006) reported mentum deformities in Chironomus dilutus that were exposed to arsenite spiked soils. The mayfly Baetis tricaudatus (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) experienced reduced nymph growth and development when exposed to 1 000 μg/L of arsenate and arsenite (Irving et al, 2008).…”

Occurrence of abnormalities on labral keel of Coronatella monacantha (Cladocera, Anomopoda, Chydoridae) in a population from Ceará, Brazil

“…This kind of contamination affects water quality directly, and consequently, biological communities, which can cause modifications at an individual level. Martinez et al (2006) observed deformities in Chironomus tentas larvae when exposed to arsenic. Bioassays have shown that mercury and methylmercury induce abnormalities in the gills of Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera juveniles (Skinner and Bannett, 2007).…”

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“…Hamilton and Saether (Hamilton & Saether, 1971) were the first to indicate that deformities in chironomids can be used to measure the extent to which aquatic ecosystems are polluted. It was shown latter on that elevated concentrations of zinc, lead, copper and arsenic in water can cause deformities of the oral apparatusmouthparts in chironomid larvae reared on an artificial sediment unburdened by heavy metals (Janssens de Bisthoven, Vermeulen & Ollevier, 1998;Martinez, Moore, Schaumloffel & Dasgupta, 2003;Martinez, Moore, Schaumloffel & Dasgupta, 2006;Beneberu & Mengistou, 2014).…”