Copper Exposure Affects Anti-Predatory Behaviour and Acetylcholinesterase Levels in <i>Culex pipiens</i> (Diptera, Culicidae)
Copper is an essential metal that occurs chronically in the environment and affects the development and physiology of aquatic insects. In excess amounts, it can impair their nervous system and behaviour. We tested the anti-predatory behaviour of <i>Cx. pipiens</i> larvae after seven days...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/12/1151 |
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| author | Nermeen R. Amer Sharon P. Lawler Nawal M. Zohdy Aly Younes Wael M. ElSayed Guillaume Wos Samah Abdelrazek Hind Omer Richard E. Connon |
| author_facet | Nermeen R. Amer Sharon P. Lawler Nawal M. Zohdy Aly Younes Wael M. ElSayed Guillaume Wos Samah Abdelrazek Hind Omer Richard E. Connon |
| author_sort | Nermeen R. Amer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Copper is an essential metal that occurs chronically in the environment and affects the development and physiology of aquatic insects. In excess amounts, it can impair their nervous system and behaviour. We tested the anti-predatory behaviour of <i>Cx. pipiens</i> larvae after seven days exposure with several concentrations of copper up to 500 mg L<sup>−1</sup>. We measured responses to non- consumptive (predation cues) and consumptive predation (dragonfly larvae) across two generations. We also tested the accumulated effect of copper on AChE enzyme activity. We exposed half of treated and control larvae to predation cues (water with predator odour and crushed conspecifics) and the other half to water without predation cues. We evaluated total distance moved and velocity. Copper reduced the distance moved and velocity, with stronger effects in the second generation. Copper had no significant effect on larvae eaten by dragonflies. Copper inhibited the AChE enzyme across both generations at 500 µg L<sup>−1</sup>. Copper can affect the nervous system directly by inhibiting AChE activity, and possibly also by impairing the olfaction sensors of the larvae, resulting in larval inability to detect predation cues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:18:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a9de67ecfa0244f985ec2b2eb11013d8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:18:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-a9de67ecfa0244f985ec2b2eb11013d82023-11-24T15:40:01ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502022-12-011312115110.3390/insects13121151Copper Exposure Affects Anti-Predatory Behaviour and Acetylcholinesterase Levels in <i>Culex pipiens</i> (Diptera, Culicidae)Nermeen R. Amer0Sharon P. Lawler1Nawal M. Zohdy2Aly Younes3Wael M. ElSayed4Guillaume Wos5Samah Abdelrazek6Hind Omer7Richard E. Connon8Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptEntomology and Nematology Department, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USAEntomology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptEntomology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptEntomology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptInstitute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-120 Krakow, PolandDepartment of Anatomy, Physiology & Cell Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USAEntomology and Nematology Department, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Anatomy, Physiology & Cell Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USACopper is an essential metal that occurs chronically in the environment and affects the development and physiology of aquatic insects. In excess amounts, it can impair their nervous system and behaviour. We tested the anti-predatory behaviour of <i>Cx. pipiens</i> larvae after seven days exposure with several concentrations of copper up to 500 mg L<sup>−1</sup>. We measured responses to non- consumptive (predation cues) and consumptive predation (dragonfly larvae) across two generations. We also tested the accumulated effect of copper on AChE enzyme activity. We exposed half of treated and control larvae to predation cues (water with predator odour and crushed conspecifics) and the other half to water without predation cues. We evaluated total distance moved and velocity. Copper reduced the distance moved and velocity, with stronger effects in the second generation. Copper had no significant effect on larvae eaten by dragonflies. Copper inhibited the AChE enzyme across both generations at 500 µg L<sup>−1</sup>. Copper can affect the nervous system directly by inhibiting AChE activity, and possibly also by impairing the olfaction sensors of the larvae, resulting in larval inability to detect predation cues.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/12/1151mosquitocuestoxicityacetylcholineenzymecopper sulphate |
| spellingShingle | Nermeen R. Amer Sharon P. Lawler Nawal M. Zohdy Aly Younes Wael M. ElSayed Guillaume Wos Samah Abdelrazek Hind Omer Richard E. Connon Copper Exposure Affects Anti-Predatory Behaviour and Acetylcholinesterase Levels in <i>Culex pipiens</i> (Diptera, Culicidae) Insects mosquito cues toxicity acetylcholine enzyme copper sulphate |
| title | Copper Exposure Affects Anti-Predatory Behaviour and Acetylcholinesterase Levels in <i>Culex pipiens</i> (Diptera, Culicidae) |
| title_full | Copper Exposure Affects Anti-Predatory Behaviour and Acetylcholinesterase Levels in <i>Culex pipiens</i> (Diptera, Culicidae) |
| title_fullStr | Copper Exposure Affects Anti-Predatory Behaviour and Acetylcholinesterase Levels in <i>Culex pipiens</i> (Diptera, Culicidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Copper Exposure Affects Anti-Predatory Behaviour and Acetylcholinesterase Levels in <i>Culex pipiens</i> (Diptera, Culicidae) |
| title_short | Copper Exposure Affects Anti-Predatory Behaviour and Acetylcholinesterase Levels in <i>Culex pipiens</i> (Diptera, Culicidae) |
| title_sort | copper exposure affects anti predatory behaviour and acetylcholinesterase levels in i culex pipiens i diptera culicidae |
| topic | mosquito cues toxicity acetylcholine enzyme copper sulphate |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/12/1151 |
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