Avoidance behavior of earthworms under exposure to pesticides: Is it always chemosensorial?

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2010

Autores

Joana L Pereira (Autor) Outra; Sara C Antunes (Autor) Outra; Ana C Ferreira (Autor) Outra; Fernando Goncalves (Autor) Outra; Ruth Pereira (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: Journal of Environmental Science and Health - Part B Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes

Vol. 45

Páginas: 229-232

ISSN: 0360-1234

Editora: Taylor & Francis

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 29 Citações

Scopus - 30 Citações

Classificação Científica

FOS: Ciências médicas e da saúde > Ciências da saúde

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-003-BMC

DOI: 10.1080/03601231003613625

Abstract (EN): Soil avoidance by earthworms has been generally considered a relevant and sensitive endpoint for assessing soil contamination by xenobiotics. However, when pesticide ecotoxicological assessment is concerned, the sensitivity of the recently standardized avoidance assay has been questioned. We hypothesized that this controversy may be due to the specific pesticide mode of action of the chemicals used rather than reveal inconsistencies in the test feasibility, i.e. provided that no pesticides interfering with neuronal pathways are tested, this bioassay should keep expected high levels of sensitivity. In this study, the avoidance behaviour of the earthworm Eisenia andrei under exposure to the carbamate insecticide methomyl [S-methyl N-(methylcarbamoyloxy)thioacetimidate] was linked to the corresponding acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. Significant AChE inhibition occurred at lower concentrations (from 0.86 mg Kg-1 onwards) than significant avoidance of spiked soil (from 5.62 mg Kg-1 onwards). This indicates that assessments regarding pesticides that have neurotoxic activity may be biased if behavioral endpoints are selected. Despite theoretical hypothesis that have been raised, this should be the first study providing preliminary experimental evidence on such a link between avoidance behavior and neuronal impairment levels in earthworms. Further studies are ongoing that should refine conclusions of this study.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 4