Morphological deformities occurring in Belarusian chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) subsequent to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster

Abstract

1. Chironomid larvae and adults were collected from several freshwater habitats around the Chernobyl site from 1990 to 1994 (4–8 years after a nuclear accident) and examined for morphological deformities. 2. Deformities were found in larvae of nine of the 13 species collected, and were most obvious in headcapsule structures, particularly the antennae, mentum, mandibles and epipharyngeal pectens. 3. In species of Chironomus, the most abundant genus, there was a positive linear relationship between the incidence of deformity and radiation level. Indices of severity of deformity showed similar trends. It is suggested that these deformities resulted largely from ingestion of irradiated, plant‐derived, fine particulate food. 4. Among adult male Ch. riparius, the deformity index decreased both with increasing time from the accident and with increasing distance from the reactor, although these trends were not statistically significant. There was also a trend of increased severity of deformity closer to the accident, both in time and space. 5. Overall, there was a greater incidence of deformity in the larvae than in the adults (e.g. 60 versus 20%, respectively, at the Krasnoselye site and 33 versus 20%, respectively, at the more distant Dron’ki site). 6. It was not possible to determine whether the deformities were inherited from previous generations or were somatic occurrences in each new generation as a consequence of the radiation that continues to pervade the region.

Gamma radiation tolerance of a tropical species of midge,Chironomus ramosusChaudhuri (Diptera: Chironomidae)

“…Renewed interest on the radioresistance of midges could be witnessed after the Chernobyl nuclear reactor explosion in April 1986. Studies on the natural population of Chironomus obtained from the areas of Chernobyl fallout (Samoilenko et al 1994, Pankov and Andreev 1999, Williams et al 2001) confirmed the radio-adaptation of the local species of Chironomid midge. Various population genetics and cytogenetic analysis revealed that specific chromosomal inversions were stabilised in the irradiated natural population of C. belatonicus from the Chernobyl region (Michailova and Petrova 1994).…”

Radiosensitivity of two strains of the codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) originating from different elevations in Armenia

“…In Drosophila much work has been carried out on the response of different strains to radiation (Parsons et al 1969) and one study showed that a strain originating from a region of high natural radiation was significantly more radiation resistant to the induction of dominant lethal mutations than a strain from a region with a much lower background radiation (Cordeiro et al 1973). Adaptation of a natural population of Chironomids to chronic low-level radiation has also been reported (Blaylock 1965(Blaylock , 1966, as well as cytogenetic changes and morphological deformities of Chironomid populations subsequent to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster (Michailova and Petrova 1994;Williams et al 2001).…”

“…1973). Adaptation of a natural population of Chironomids to chronic low‐level radiation has also been reported (Blaylock 1965, 1966), as well as cytogenetic changes and morphological deformities of Chironomid populations subsequent to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster (Michailova and Petrova 1994; Williams et al. 2001).…”

Morphological abnormalities in gall‐forming aphids in a radiation‐contaminated area near Fukushima Daiichi: selective impact of fallout?

“…In attempts to clarify the effects of radiation on mammals, birds, and arthropods, phenotypic abnormalities have been evaluated based on adults (Møller 1993(Møller , 2002Møller and Mousseau 2006;Yablokov et al 2009) except in a few studies (Williams et al 2001). However, the effects of radiation emerge most strongly in hatchlings or newborns, resulting in mortality and phenotypic abnormalities, as shown in irradiation experiments (Elbadry 1965;Tilton et al 1966;McGregor and Newcombe 1968;Vereecke and Pelerents 1969;Matranga et al 2010) as well as field studies in Chernobyl (Krivolutzkii and Pokarzhevskii 1992;Krivolutsky 1995).…”