The objective of our study is to reveal the effects of paper cups sold under different brands on the aquatic test organisms, Daphnia magna and Artemia salina, which are frequently used in toxicity studies. To this end, survival rates of D. magna and A. salina individuals, which were kept alive after cooling in paper cups exposed to 20 °C and 80 °C, for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours were determined. Upon examining the results, while no significant decrease was found in the survival rates of D. magna and A. salina individuals kept in glassware, a significant increase was identified in the mortality rates of individuals kept in paper glasses, especially at 72 and 96 hours. It was determined that whereas the mortality rates reached 40% in paper and plastic cups exposed to 20 °C water, the mortality rates reached 70% in paper cups exposed to 80 °C water. Moreover, regression was found in the developmental and reproductive characteristics of D. magna and A. salina individuals, which were kept in paper cups exposed to water at different temperatures, compared to the control group and individuals in glass cups. We think that this was caused by microplastics or some chemicals released into the water due to the deterioration of the film layer on the inner surface of the glass, especially due to the high temperature.

In this research, it was aimed to investigate the ecotoxicological effects of seawater from Galindez Island, lake sediment samples collected from Ardley Island, and green algae ice samples collected from Horseshoe Island on Drosophila melanogaster, which is an important model organism. Newly hatched Drosophila melanogaster larvae of the same age and adult individuals were used. While the individuals in the control group were tested in standard media, the individuals in the experimental group were tested under 3 different conditions at the rates of 25%, 50%, and 100% of each water sample. The effects of polar water added to the media on mortality rates on Drosophila melanogaster eggs, larvae, and adults were investigated. The effect of water samples collected from Ardley and Horseshoe Islands on the survival percentage in Drosophila melanogaster larvae was found to be similar to the control group. Furthermore, while the viability rate in Ardley and Horseshoe Island was 92% and 96%, respectively, in the control group individuals, similar results were obtained in all rates in the experimental group. The water samples obtained from 3 different points from the Antarctic region have not reached a level that will adversely affect the lives of the larvae and adults of the creature as of the present day. Nevertheless, although pollution was detected in some areas in the Antarctic region in the literature, we consider that this pollution can be prevented before it reaches dangerous levels with some measures to be taken.

Microbiota; Microbiome refers to the genes carried by microorganisms living commensally with humans. Recent studies have shown that the gut microbiota plays an important role in shaping the health and fitness of animals, including humans. Probiotics, known as live microorganisms that, when taken in sufficient quantities, are beneficial to the health of the organism they inhabit, have been used traditionally by people for centuries in different ways. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of modified gut microbiota of Drosophila melanogaster individuals fed on probiotic supplemented media and standard media on mate selection, which is one of the behavioral characteristics. For this purpose, probiotic food containing 11 different bacterial species was added to the medium of D. melanogaster for 6 generations to reshape the fly microbiota. Flies grown on standard Drosophila medium and flies fed probiotic food were placed on the cell plates as 1 male and 1 female mixed. The mate choices of individuals carrying different markers were tracked and recorded. Obtained results were evaluated statistically. As a result, it was observed that nutrition, and therefore microbiota, was effective in the selection of mates of flies mixed in cell plates. In particular, it was determined that individuals fed with probiotics chose the opposite sex fed with probiotics in the selection of mates for mating. It has been concluded that the effects of microbiota, the importance of which has been better understood in recent years, on living things should be clarified by different studies.

Activated carbon, one of the most important adsorbents used in the industry, is a general definition used to describe carbon adsorbents, which have a large crystal and amorphous structure and wide internal pores. Activated carbon, which has started to be used in many fields in recent years, is observed to be preferred as an important additive in the food industry. This study aimed to investigate the reliability of the use of activated carbon as a food additive in different model organisms, such as Drosophila melanogaster, Artemia salina, and Daphnia magna. To this end, the organisms were kept alive in nutrient media containing activated carbon at different concentrations (0.1 mgmL-1 , 0.5 mgmL-1 , 1 mgmL-1 , 2.5 mgmL-1 , and 5 mgmL-1), and changes that occurred in their percentage of survival were determined for 48 h. According to the data obtained, for all three organisms, it was found that in comparison with the control group, there was no decrease in survival percentages in any of the experimental groups in which activated carbon was used. On the contrary, there were increases depending on concentration. Especially in A.salina, the percentage of survival, which was 78 % in the control group, increased up to 87 % (P <0.05). As a result of the study, it was concluded that activated carbon at the specified doses might be used reliably as a food additive. It was evaluated that these results should be supported by in vivo and in vitro studies to be conducted in different organisms.

White tea is a special tea made from the bud and young leaves of some varieties of Camellia sinensis L. Kuntze plant. In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of white tea on larval mortality in Drosophila melanogaster and the lifespan. The effect of white tea on the lifespan was studied separately in female and male populations of D. melanogaster. An average of 100 individuals for each group was collected from non-mated male and female flies at the same age (1-3 days). Then, these individuals were fed for 2 hours in culture tubes containing white tea at different concentrations (0.5; 1.0; 1.5 and 2.0 mL/100mL medium) and water extracts as the control group. As a result of our study, no decrease was observed in the larval mortality rates at any concentration we applied. This result has been interpreted as that white tea does not have toxic effects in the experimental groups. In the results obtained from the second phase of the study, statistically, significant increases were observed in the lifespan parallel to the increase in concentration. This result was interpreted to have been related to the antioxidant content in white tea.