Growing snails used as sentinels to evaluate terrestrial environment contamination by trace elements

Vaufleury, A Gomot de; Pihan, François

doi:10.1016/s0045-6535(99)00246-5

Cited by 114 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…These authors suggested that growth performance of snails demonstrated the possibility of an approach for assessing the biologic impact from atmospheric and vehicular pollutant. The trend of weight gain of the present study (Table 1) compares with findings of Gomot-de Vaufleury and Pihan (2000) that snails placed as sentinels at unpolluted sites become heavier than those at polluted road sides. From the present study, A. achatina may be termed an efficient bioindicator for monitoring air quality, as it compares with report of study with H. aspersa by Regoli et al (2006).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 77%

Effects of Lead Pollution from Vehicular Exhaust Fumes Against Sentinel Juvenile Achatina achatina

Ebenso

Ologhobo

2008

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol

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We investigated lead metal pollution induced by traffic fumes along roads with differing traffic intensity near abandoned battery factory (Niger Delta, Nigeria). Juvenile Achatina achatina were positioned as sentinels in plastic snaileries 2 m on road sides. Lead contamination in snail tissue by atomic absorption spectrophotometer increased with increasing vehicular traffic intensity. Snails showed low positive (r (2) = 0.40) relationship and significant (p < 0.05) accumulation of atmospheric lead pollution. Edible snails sold along road sides are prone to lead contamination.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 77%

Effects of Lead Pollution from Vehicular Exhaust Fumes Against Sentinel Juvenile Achatina achatina

Ebenso

Ologhobo

2008

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol

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“…No snail aestivated and no snail died. Mortality can be considered as a first pollution alarm (Gomot de Vaufleury and Pihan 2000). Biota can and do adapt to wide range of metal concentrations without necessarily incurring any fitness costs (Barata et al 2002).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Lead Pollution at Industrial Contaminated Sites on Sentinel Juvenile Achatina achatina

Ebenso

Ologhobo

2008

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol

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We investigated juvenile Achatina achatina snails exposed as sentinels in plastic cages for 12 weeks to compare lead pollution at dump sites of abandoned battery factory (Niger Delta, Nigeria). Results indicated 0.56, 20.37, 200.42 and 1200.30 microg/g soil lead at control, storage, dried effluent and waste dump sites, respectively. There were significant (p < 0.05) depression in snail growth with increasing level of lead pollution. Snails were tolerant of all levels of lead pollution with no mortalities. This novel approach provides a basis for use of snail data in environmental pollution assessment of industrial sites.

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“…More recently, Notten et al (2006) captured less snails on a metal-polluted site compared to an uncontaminated one. This could be due to the direct eVect of metals on herbivores (Laskowski and Hopkin 1996;Gomot-de VauXeury and Pihan 2000;Notten et al 2006) or to other unfavourable environmental conditions associated with calamine soils, such as drought.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do metal-rich plants deter herbivores? A field test of the defence hypothesis

et al. 2007

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Some plant species growing on metalliferous soils are able to accumulate heavy metals in their shoots up to very high concentrations, but the selective advantage of this behaviour is still unknown. The most popular hypothesis, that metals protect plants against herbivores, has been tested several times in laboratory conditions, with contradictory results. We carried out the first large-scale test of the defence hypothesis in eight natural populations of the model Zn hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens J. and C. Presl (Brassicaceae). In two climatic regions (temperate, Belgium-Luxembourg, and Mediterranean, southern France), we worked in metalliferous and in normal, uncontaminated environments, with plants spanning a wide range of Zn concentrations. We also examined the importance of glucosinolates (main secondary metabolites of Brassicaceae) as antiherbivore defences. When exposed to natural herbivore populations, T. caerulescens suffered lower herbivory pressures in metal-enriched soils than in normal soils, both in Belgium-Luxembourg and in southern France. The trapping of gastropods shows an overall lower population density in metalliferous compared to normal environments, which suggests that herbivory pressure from gastropods is lower on metalliferous soils. In addition, foliar concentration of glucosinolates was constitutively lower in all populations from metal-enriched soils, suggesting that these have evolved towards lower investment in organic defences in response to lower herbivory pressure. The Zn concentration of plants had a protective role only for Belgian metallicolous plants when transplanted in normal soils of Luxembourg. These results do not support the hypothesis that Zn plays a key role in the protection of T. caerulescens against enemies. In contrast, glucosinolates appear to be directly involved in the defence of this hyperaccumulator against herbivores.

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Growing snails used as sentinels to evaluate terrestrial environment contamination by trace elements

Cited by 114 publications

References 16 publications

Effects of Lead Pollution from Vehicular Exhaust Fumes Against Sentinel Juvenile Achatina achatina

Effects of Lead Pollution from Vehicular Exhaust Fumes Against Sentinel Juvenile Achatina achatina

Effects of Lead Pollution at Industrial Contaminated Sites on Sentinel Juvenile Achatina achatina

Do metal-rich plants deter herbivores? A field test of the defence hypothesis

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