Artículos de revistas
Do Larvae and Ovipositing Chironomus riparius (Diptera: Chironomidae) Females Avoid Copper-Contaminated Environments?
Fecha
2009Registro en:
HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT, v.15, n.1, p.63-75, 2009
1080-7039
10.1080/10807030802615162
Autor
DORNFELD, Carolina B.
MOREIRA-SANTOS, Matilde
ESPINDOLA, Evaldo L. G.
RIBEIRO, Rui
Institución
Resumen
Studies on the avoidance behavior of aquatic organisms to contaminants have confirmed that such behavior can be relevant in field situations. However, almost all toxicity tests involve the forced exposure of organisms to toxicants. In particular, despite the importance of Chironomus riparius Meigen larvae in sediment toxicity testing, only a few studies on avoidance behavior have been performed. This study investigated the ability of different life stages of C. riparius, including ovipositing females, first-, second-, and fourth-instar larvae, to avoid copper-contaminated environments. Ovipositing females were given a choice between a control and copper solution (1.3 mg Cu l(-1)). First-instar larvae were provided with a choice between a control and a copper (2.0 mg Cu l(-1))-spiked sediment. Both second- and fourth-instars were exposed to a copper gradient (0.38-3.4 mg Cu l(-1)) in a flow-through system. None of the life stages avoided copper, even though the highest concentrations caused lethal effects on midges. The avoidance behavior of C. riparius is not a sensitive endpoint to assess copper sublethal toxicity.