Distribution of Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) in polluted rivers of the Juru River Basin, Penang, Malaysia

The influence of physical and chemical parameters on the abundance and diversity of chironomids was studied in six rivers with moderate to highly polluted water in the Juru River Basin. The rivers: Ceruk Tok Kun (CTKR) as reference site, and polluted rivers of Pasir (PR), Juru (JR), Permatang Rawa (PRR), Ara (AR) and Kilang Ubi (KUR) were sampled over a period of five months (November 2007–March 2008). Nine chirnomid species: Chironimus kiiensis, C. javanus, Polypedilum trigonus, Microchironomus sp., Dicrotendipes sp., Tanytarsus formosanus, Clinotanypus sp., Tanypus punctipennis and Fittkauimyia sp. were identified. Assessment of their relationships with several environmental parameters was performed using the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Tanytarsus formosanus was the most dominant in the relatively clean CTKR and moderately polluted JR with mean densities of 19.66 and 25.32 m?2, respectively while C. kiiensis was abundant in more polluted rivers. Tanytarsus formosanus, Dicrotendipes sp. and Microchironomus sp. were grouped under moderate to high water temperature, total organic matter (TOM), total suspended solids (TSS), velocity, pH, phosphates and sulphates. However, Tanypus punctipennis, Fittkauimyia sp., and Clinotanypus sp. were associated with high contents of river sediment such as TOM, Zn and Mn and water ammonium-N and nitrate-N and they were associated with higher dissolved oxygen (DO) content in the water. Chironomus kiiensis, C. javanus and P. trigonus showed positive relationships with TOM, ammonium-N and nitrate-N as well as trace metals of Zn, Cu and Mn. These three species could be considered as tolerant species since they have the ability to survive in extreme environmental conditions with low DO and high concentrations of pollutants. Based on the water parameter scores in all rivers, the highest diversity of chironomid larvae was reported in CTKR. With higher concentrations of organic and/or inorganic pollutants as reported in PPR, KUR and AR, the chironomid larval diversity decreased, and the abundance of tolerant species, mainly Chironomus spp., increased.     

河北沿岸硬骨鱼类鱼卵和仔雅鱼分布

2006年夏季(7月)、冬季(12月)和2007年春季(4月)、秋季(9月)用浅海型标准浮游生物网在河北沿岸海域进行了鱼卵和仔稚鱼生态调查.结果显示,4个季度月共采集鱼卵和仔稚鱼19种,分别隶属4目6科11属,优势种为石首鱼科.夏季出现的种类和数量最多.分布密集区主要集中在渤海湾.     

镉对中华蟾蜍蝌蚪生长、变态和Dios、TRs表达以及肝脏的影响

镉(cadmium,Cd)是一种典型的工业毒素和环境污染物,对两栖类生物具有强烈的毒性作用。为了探讨镉对两栖类生物的毒害作用,选择中华蟾蜍蝌蚪作为受试生物,研究了不同浓度Cd对中华蟾蜍蝌蚪生长、变态和Dios、TRs表达以及肝脏的的影响,结果表明,500μg·L~(~(-1))Cd可以极显著降低蝌蚪的变态率、全长、尾长和体重(P0.01);Real-time PCR结果显示,在变态高峰期,500μg·L~(~(-1))Cd可以显著下调Dio2、TRα和TRβ mRNA的相对表达量(P0.05),显著上调Dio3 mRNA的相对表达量(P0.05);透射电镜试验结果显示Cd可以破坏中华蟾蜍蝌蚪肝脏细胞胞浆中的细胞器和胆管中的微绒毛。综合以上结果,可知,高浓度的Cd可以紊乱甲状腺的内分泌和导致肝脏的病变,进而影响中华蟾蜍蝌蚪的生长和变态。     

Contrasting effects of black carbon amendments on PAH bioaccumulation by Chironomus plumosus larvae in two distinct sediments: role of water absorption and particle ingestion

Two sediment matrices with different characteristics were amended with chars from different sources for bioaccumulation assay with filter-feeding Chironomus plumosus larvae. Chars greatly decreased porewater concentrations of PAHs (C_iw) measured using polyethylene devices in sediments. In organic rich sediment matrix-based systems where suspended char particles were absent, PAH concentrations in larvae (C_iB) were significantly correlated with C_iw, and there was no difference in water-based bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) between different treatments, suggesting that water absorption was the main contaminant uptake route for larvae. In organic poor sediment matrix-based systems where suspended char particles were present, poor Pearson correlation between C_iB and C_iw was found, but there was a significant linear increase of BAF values with char contents, which indicated that ingestion of suspended char particles could also be important for PAH bioaccumulation. Therefore, we need to rethink of the effectiveness and risks for the application of black carbon to sediment/soil remediation.     

Effects of red‐headed pine sawfly,Neodiprion lecontei,nuclear polyhedrosis virus on rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri,and Daphnia pulex

Abstract

The effects of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) of the red‐headed pine sawfly, Neodiprion lecontei, on rainbow trout, Salmo gairdnevi, were investigated. The fish were exposed to this virus by intubation and topical application and no ill‐effects were observed. Similarly, no ill‐effects were detected in Daphnia pulex when the same NPV was added to their culture medium. The materials were lyophilized, NPV‐infected sawfly larvae (normally used for insect control), lyophilized, unin‐fected larvae and purified, polyhedral inclusion bodies. On the basis of these laboratory tests, this virus, when disseminated as a biocontrol agent, should present no hazard to rainbow trout or to the aquatic invertebrate Daphnia pulex, two species frequently used in toxicity tests of chemical pesticides.     

高Cu、高Zn对白星花金龟幼虫的毒性作用

Cu(铜)和Zn(锌)是环境中最常见的重金属污染元素,为探究其对白星花金龟幼虫的毒性,采用滤纸接触法、人工土壤法和菌渣培养法研究了高Cu、高Zn对白星花金龟幼虫的生长及氧化胁迫效应。结果表明,滤纸接触法和人工土壤法中试验浓度Cu、Zn对白星花金龟幼虫死亡率无明显影响。菌渣培养法中虫体的取食抑制率和体重增长抑制率均与Cu、Zn浓度呈显著性正相关关系;Cu处理诱导了虫体可溶性蛋白含量的增加,抑制了SOD(超氧化物歧化酶)、GST(谷胱甘肽转移酶)的活性和MDA(丙二醛)的产生,对CAT(过氧化物酶)活性没有显著影响;Zn浓度为3 500和5 000 mg·kg-1的处理组可溶性蛋白含量被显著诱导、MDA含量被显著抑制,浓度为2 000和6 500 mg·kg-1处理组的SOD活性被激活(P0.05),Zn胁迫未对CAT、GST活性造成明显影响。表明Cu、Zn污染对白星花金龟幼虫生长具有毒性效应,在评价高浓度的重金属污染对虫体的毒性作用时,不能仅采用SOD、CAT、GST等指标作为标志物,需要综合其他指标进行分析。     

二氧化氯对摇蚊幼虫表皮和肌肉细胞超微结构的影响

通过扫描电镜和透射电镜观察,综合分析了二氧化氯对摇蚊幼虫表皮和肌肉细胞超微结构的影响。研究结果表明:二氧化氯处理后的摇蚊幼虫表皮由于真皮细胞结构被破坏导致板层结构消失,真皮细胞层与内表皮层相分离。真皮细胞的损害表现为核仁变形、染色质固缩;线粒体内嵴减少、解体、空泡化;内质网减少,小池扩张、囊泡化,表面核糖体数量减少。中毒的肌肉细胞内核仁变形;线粒体内嵴溶解,空泡化严重。     

Chemosensory and behavioural responses of the turnip sawfly, Athalia rosae, to glucosinolates and isothiocyanates

Summary. The turnip sawfly Athalia rosae sequesters glucosinolates from its cruciferous host plants in the larval stage. Investigation of the chemosensory and behavioural responses of adult A. rosae to glucosinolates and their volatile hydrolysis products, isothiocyanates, revealed that females detect glucosinolates by contact chemoreception and isothiocyanates by antennal olfaction. In electroantennogram recordings, four isothiocyanates (allyl [2-propenyl] isothiocyanate, benzyl isothiocyanate, butyl isothiocyanate and iberverin [3-methylthiopropyl isothiocyanate]) were active at all doses presented, including the lowest (0.1 μg), whilst the threshold for detection of three others, iberin [3-methylsulphinylpropyl isothiocyanate], methyl isothiocyanate, and sulforaphane [4-methylsulphinylbutyl isothiocyanate], was higher, at between 1 and 10 μg (source concentration of volatiles). Allyl isothiocyanate attracted experienced females in a four-chambered olfactometer, whilst na?ve females showed no response. Allyl isothiocyanate also attracted mature females to baited yellow water traps in field trials, although immature females were repelled at high isothiocyanate concentrations. In laboratory behavioural bioassays the glucosinolates sinigrin (allyl [2-propenyl] glucosinolate) and sinalbin (p-hydroxybenzyl glucosinolate), stimulated ovipositor probing in mature female A. rosae to an extent comparable to hot-water extracts of their host plants. These responses show that glucosinolates and isothiocyanates play an important role in host finding and host recognition in A. rosae.     

Comparative Analysis of Foraging Behavior in Aquatic and Semiaquatic Spiders of the Genera Argyroneta,Dolomedes, Pirata,and Pardosa

A group of sympatric aquatic and semiaquatic spiders inhabiting Western Siberia (Argyroneta, Dolomedes, Pirata, and Pardosa) has been studied with respect to specific ethological features. The results provide a basis for the conclusion that these spiders differ in a number of behavioral adaptations related to prey catching and the use of common biotopic space. Experiments with the predator–prey system have shown that spiders have different effects on the abundance of bloodsucking mosquito larvae and on the age and genetic structure (at the chromosomal level) of their populations. The functional role of spiders in communities is discussed.     

The Impact of Pollution on the Meroplankton of Gaidamak Bight (Vostok Bay,Sea of Japan)

The taxonomic composition, concentration, and distribution of meroplankton have been studied in Gaidamak Bight, Peter the Great Bay, chronically exposed to anthropogenic impact. It has been demonstrated that, in addition to larvae of benthic invertebrates resistant to pollution, the larvae of other species are always abundant in the bight. They drift with currents from neighboring clean water areas, thus maintaining the high reproductive potential of meroplankton in the bight. Therefore, if this water area was cleared of pollutants, it could be populated again by species that have disappeared from it.