Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

, Volume 128, Issue 1–3, pp 251–257 | Cite as

A long term study of the desiccation resistance of Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans from the Mexican nuclear power plant “Laguna Verde”

  • A. E. Pimentel
  • L. Levine
  • M. P. Cruces
  • S. V. Salceda
Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:
  • 64 Downloads

Abstract

The generation of electricity through the use of radioactive material at the nuclear power plant is inevitably associated with the production of wastes, some of which have potential impact on the biosphere. The objective of the present investigation was to provide information for evaluating the presumed impact of the Mexican Nuclear Power Plant “Laguna Verde" on the natural populations. Two sibling species that live in the immediate vicinity, Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans have been studied for several traits in a long term study. The present study describes results for the desiccation resistance (DR) trait obtained during the period from 1995 to 2002. Flies were collected at two sites, one near the reactors and another farther away. The data obtained confirmed that D. melanogaster had higher DR values than D. simulans at both sites. The analysis of the results obtained from both species of the site closer to the reactor indicated that the values of the DR in the operational stage did not change, compared with those in the preoperational stage previously analyzed. Therefore, the significant differences found between the monitored sites did not seem to be associated to the operation of the reactors.

Keywords

Desiccation resistance Drosophila Environmental impact Nuclear power plant Sibling species Laguna Verde 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Arlian, L.G., & Eckstrand, I.A. (1975). Water balance in Drosophila pseudoobscura, and its ecological implication. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 68, 827–832.Google Scholar
  2. BEIR, Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (1980). The effects on populations of exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
  3. Bouletreau-Merle, J., Fuillet, P., & Terrier, O. (1987). Seasonal variation and balance polymorphism in the reproductive potential of temperate D. melanogaster populations. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 43, 39–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Contreras, A., Vázquez, J.C., Mancilla, L.C., & Pérez Alvarez, L. (1995). Campo de vientos alrededor de Laguna Verde y modelos realistas de dispersión atmosférica. Reporte Tácnico 1. Est. Cen. Laguna Verde. Anexo 1.Google Scholar
  5. Cordeiro, R., Marques, E.K., & Veiga-Neto, A.J. (1973). Radioresistance of natural population of Drosophila willistoni living in a radioactive environment. Mutation Research 19, 325–329.Google Scholar
  6. DAPNELV-C.N.S.N.S, Méx. Dosimetría Ambiental del Proyecto Nucleoeléctrico de Laguna Verde. Comisión Nacional de Seguridad Nacional y Salvaguardias, México. (1986–2002).Google Scholar
  7. De la Rosa, M.E., Guzmán, J., Levine, L., Olvera, O., & Rockwell, R.F. (1989a). Studies of sibling Drosophila species from Laguna Verde, Veracruz, México: I. Species frequencies, viability, desiccation resistance and vagility. Journal of Heredity, 80, 44–47.Google Scholar
  8. De la Rosa, M.E., Guzmán, J., Levine, L., Olvera, O., & Rockwell, R.F. (1989b). Studies of sibling Drosophila species from Laguna Verde, Ver. México. II. Effect of radiation on viability. Revista Internacional de Contaminacion Ambiental, 5, 65–70.Google Scholar
  9. Diehl, W., Gaffney, J., & Kohen, R.K (1986). Physiological and genetic aspects of growth in the mussel Mytilus edulis. I. Oxygen consumption, growth and weight loss. Physiological Zoology, 59, 201–211.Google Scholar
  10. Grosch, D.S., & Hopwood, L.E. (1979). Biological Effects of Radiation, Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
  11. Glushkova, I.V., Mosse I.B., Anosheko, I.P., & Malei, L.P. (2002). Study on genetic radioresistance of natural Drosophila melanogaster population from radionuclide contaminated regions of Byelarus. Radiats. Boil. Radioecol., 42, 124–129.Google Scholar
  12. Halffter, G., & Reyes, P. (1975). Análisis cuantitativo de la fauna de artrópodos de Laguna Verde, Veracruz. Folia Entomologica Mexicana, 30, 3–29.Google Scholar
  13. Hellawell, J.M. (1991). Monitoring for conservation and ecology. in Goldsmith, FB (ed.), Monitoring for conservation and ecology (pp. 1–14), Chapman and Hall, London.Google Scholar
  14. Hoffmann, A.A., & Parsons, P.A. (1989). Selection for increased desiccation resistance in Drosophila melanogaster: additive genetic control and correlated response for other stresses. Genetics. 122, 837–845.Google Scholar
  15. Levine, L., Olvera, O., Rockwell, F.L., De la Rosa, M.E., & Guzmán, J. (1989). Nuclear power and natural populations of Mexican Drosophila. Genome. 31, 256–264.Google Scholar
  16. Marques, E.K. (1973). The development of radioresistance in irradiated Drosophila nebulosa populations. Mut. Res. 17, 59–72.Google Scholar
  17. Mckenzie, J.A., & Parsons, P.A. (1974). The genetic architecture of resistance to desiccation in populations of Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences, 27, 441–456.Google Scholar
  18. Mcnab, B.K. (1980). Food habits, energetics and the population biology of mammals. American Naturalist, 116, 106–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. Mcnab, B.K. (1986). The influence of food habits on the energetics of eutherian mammals. Eco.l Monogr. 56, 1–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Moore, M.N., Lowe, D.M., Livingstone, D.R., & Dioxon, D.R. (1986). Molecular and cellular indices of pollutant effects and their use in environmental impact assessment. Wat. Sc. Technica. 18, 223–232.Google Scholar
  21. Palabost, L. (1972). The influence of density on the larval viability of Drosophila melanogaster. DIS 49, 118.Google Scholar
  22. Parsons, P.A. (1975). Differences between Drosophila melanogaster and its sibling species D. simulans to radioresistence using isofemale strains from natural populations. International Journal of Radiation Biology, 27, 297–300.Google Scholar
  23. Pimentel, A.E., Cruces, M.P., Salceda, V., De la Rosa, M.E., Levine, L., & Castillo, J.A. (2004). Ten year viability study on natural populations of Drosophila sibling species from Laguna Verde, Veracruz, México. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 46, 203–207.Google Scholar
  24. Pimentel, A.E., Levine, L., Cruces, M.P., & Salceda, V.M. (2003a). Radioresistance of sibling Drosophila species from Laguna Verde, Veracruz, México. International Journal of Radiation Biology, 79, 1003–1009.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Pimentel, A.E., Tavera, L., Cruces, M.P., Balcázar, M., & De la Rosa, M.E. (2003b). Low radon-concentration effect on fecundity and egg-to-adult viability of Drosophila. Radiation Measurements, 36, 511–519.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. PMA-CNLV-CFE-Méx, Programa de Monitoreo Ambiental-Central Nucleoeléctrica de Laguna Verde-Comisión Federal de Electricidad, México. (1986–2002).Google Scholar
  27. Rockwell, R.F., De la Rosa, M.E., Guzmán, J., Laverde, M.J., Levine, L., & Olvera, O. (1991). A temporal study of desiccation resistance of sibling Drosophila species from Laguna Verde, Veracruz, México. American Midland Naturalist, 126, 338–344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. Stanley, S.M., Parsons, P.A., Spence, G.E., & Weber, L. (1980), Resistance of species of the Drosophila melanogaster subgroup to environmental extremes. Australian Journal of Zoology, 28, 413–421.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. Stanley, S.M., & Parsons, P.A. (1981). The response of the cosmopolitan species Drosophila melanogaster to ecological gradients. Proceedings of the Australian Entomological Society, 11, 121–130.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2006

Authors and Affiliations

  • A. E. Pimentel
    • 1
  • L. Levine
    • 2
  • M. P. Cruces
    • 1
  • S. V. Salceda
    • 1
  1. 1.Departamento de BiologíaInstituto Nacional de Investigaciones NuclearesMéxicoMéxico
  2. 2.Department of BiologyThe City College of New YorkNew YorkUSA

Personalised recommendations