Comparing the Susceptibility of Chironomus Striatapennis Larvae Exposed to Heavy Metals | Chapter 05 | Recent Advances in Biological Research Vol. 2
Fourth instar larvae of Chironomus
striatapennis were collected from breeding aquarium under laboratory conditions
and exposed for 96 hours to different doses of Pb, Cd and Hg for static
bioassay to measure the LC50. Ten fourth instar larvae were placed in 100 ml
beaker with 50 ml of each test solution. Larvae were exposed to six different
concentrations, consisting of five trials. A control was also maintained
wherein organisms were exposed to distilled water. Larvae were not fed during
the toxicity tests. All beakers were free from tube forming materials. Data of
mortality were subjected to probit analysis. Chi square was used to test for
heterogeneity and the result was found to be significant (p<0.05) in all
three metals. Results showed that sensitivity of larvae to metals was Hg> Cd
>Pb. C. striatapennis showed noticeable response in LC50 study and was sensitive
to low doses of heavy metals. Several secondary consumers have preferred this
larva as their food. So unplanned industrialization may increase the level of
heavy metals in the aquatic ecosystem which will accumulate slowly but
definitely in different trophic levels and at the same time unusual death of
these larvae may indirectly change the equilibrium of the aquatic ecosystem.
Static bioassay of heavy metals revealed that larvae of Chironomus
striatapennis was more sensitive to Hg than Cd and Pb respectively. It was also
observed that LC50 values were less than standard permissible limit of these
heavy metals. Unplanned industrialization may increase the level of heavy
metals in the aquatic ecosystem which will accumulate slowly but steadily in different
trophic levels and at the same time unusual death of these larvae may
indirectly change the equilibrium of the aquatic ecosystem. As this larva is a
preferred food for different secondary consumers, heavy metal toxicity may
responsible for bio-accumulation of several heavy metals in chironomid larvae
and make these larvae unsuitable for consumption.
Biography of author(s)
Dr. Susanta Nath
Associate Professor in the
Department of Zoology, Government General Degree College Singur under the
Department of Higher Education, Government of West Bengal, India.
Dr. Biplob Kumar Modak
Associate Professor in the
Department of Zoology, Sidho Kanho Birsha University, Purulia, West Bengal,
India.
Dr. Sudipta Das
Associate Professor of
Zoology under West Bengal Education Service, India.
Rahul Podder
Department of Zoology, Sidho
Kanho Birsha University, Purulia, West Bengal, India.
View Volume: https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rabr/v2
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