The protective nature of Chironomus luridus larval tubes against copper sulfate
The objective of this study was to determine whether the tubes in which Chironomus larvae dwell protect them against chemical toxicants. A laboratory culture of an Israeli benthic midge, Chironomus luridus, was exposed to copper sulfate. Two conditions were tested in bioassay experiments: larvae wit...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2002-05-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Insect Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.insectscience.org/2.8/ |
| _version_ | 1818316220935438336 |
|---|---|
| author | M. Halpern A. Gasith M. Broza |
| author_facet | M. Halpern A. Gasith M. Broza |
| author_sort | M. Halpern |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The objective of this study was to determine whether the tubes in which Chironomus larvae dwell protect them against chemical toxicants. A laboratory culture of an Israeli benthic midge, Chironomus luridus, was exposed to copper sulfate. Two conditions were tested in bioassay experiments: larvae within silt tubes and larvae without tubes. The non toxic, anionic, fluorescent dye, fluorescein, was used to examine the effect of sub-lethal copper sulfate concentrations on the permeability of cuticular, gill and gut epithelia of the chironomids. Increased cell permeability, which is the cause of cell damage, was reflected by an increase in fluorescence intensity. Following exposure to copper sulfate, higher fluorescence was found in different body compartments: midgut, hindgut, tracheal gills, fat body and muscles, and the Malpighian tubules. The effect was significantly higher in tube-free larvae when compared to silt tube dwelling larvae. We conclude that in addition to its other functions in feeding, respiration, and anti-predation shelter, the Chironomus luridus tube protects its inhabitant from toxins such as copper sulfate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:17:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d26fba5b7744b78b9918100fcd4a5e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1536-2442 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:17:58Z |
| publishDate | 2002-05-01 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Insect Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d26fba5b7744b78b9918100fcd4a5e32022-12-21T23:52:48ZengOxford University PressJournal of Insect Science1536-24422002-05-0128The protective nature of Chironomus luridus larval tubes against copper sulfateM. HalpernA. GasithM. BrozaThe objective of this study was to determine whether the tubes in which Chironomus larvae dwell protect them against chemical toxicants. A laboratory culture of an Israeli benthic midge, Chironomus luridus, was exposed to copper sulfate. Two conditions were tested in bioassay experiments: larvae within silt tubes and larvae without tubes. The non toxic, anionic, fluorescent dye, fluorescein, was used to examine the effect of sub-lethal copper sulfate concentrations on the permeability of cuticular, gill and gut epithelia of the chironomids. Increased cell permeability, which is the cause of cell damage, was reflected by an increase in fluorescence intensity. Following exposure to copper sulfate, higher fluorescence was found in different body compartments: midgut, hindgut, tracheal gills, fat body and muscles, and the Malpighian tubules. The effect was significantly higher in tube-free larvae when compared to silt tube dwelling larvae. We conclude that in addition to its other functions in feeding, respiration, and anti-predation shelter, the Chironomus luridus tube protects its inhabitant from toxins such as copper sulfate.http://www.insectscience.org/2.8/Chironomus luriduscopperchironomid tubesfluorescein |
| spellingShingle | M. Halpern A. Gasith M. Broza The protective nature of Chironomus luridus larval tubes against copper sulfate Journal of Insect Science Chironomus luridus copper chironomid tubes fluorescein |
| title | The protective nature of Chironomus luridus larval tubes against copper sulfate |
| title_full | The protective nature of Chironomus luridus larval tubes against copper sulfate |
| title_fullStr | The protective nature of Chironomus luridus larval tubes against copper sulfate |
| title_full_unstemmed | The protective nature of Chironomus luridus larval tubes against copper sulfate |
| title_short | The protective nature of Chironomus luridus larval tubes against copper sulfate |
| title_sort | protective nature of chironomus luridus larval tubes against copper sulfate |
| topic | Chironomus luridus copper chironomid tubes fluorescein |
| url | http://www.insectscience.org/2.8/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mhalpern theprotectivenatureofchironomusluriduslarvaltubesagainstcoppersulfate AT agasith theprotectivenatureofchironomusluriduslarvaltubesagainstcoppersulfate AT mbroza theprotectivenatureofchironomusluriduslarvaltubesagainstcoppersulfate AT mhalpern protectivenatureofchironomusluriduslarvaltubesagainstcoppersulfate AT agasith protectivenatureofchironomusluriduslarvaltubesagainstcoppersulfate AT mbroza protectivenatureofchironomusluriduslarvaltubesagainstcoppersulfate |