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The behaviour of the nematode, Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) in sand contaminated with the industrial pollutant chromium VI

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Abstract

This study set out to determine the suitability of the nematode Steinernema feltiae as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution, specifically chromium VI. Nematodes were introduced into sand contaminated with concentrations of Cr VI+, in a range between 10 and 100 ppm, in increments of 10. Reproductive potential, development times and infectivity vs exposure times to Cr VI were employed as endpoints. It was observed that infective juveniles (IJ) from this nematode can survive and successfully infect host insects in the presence of Cr VI for as much as 13 days, and that the nematode increases its reproductive potential at concentrations up to 100 ppm Cr VI+. Conversely, development times (time in days taken for progeny to emerge after larval host death) and IJ infectivity rates were observed to reduce with increasing concentrations of Cr VI. The ability of this nematode to survive in the presence of high concentrations of Cr VI, and its ability to increase progeny numbers at the early stages of Cr VI exposure may provide a survival advantage for this nematode at contaminated sites. It may also demonstrate potential for development as a model species for toxicological assessment in in-situ field sampling.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland under the ERTDI Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme, Ref No: 2008-FS-28-M1 and the STRIVE programme 2006–2013. The authors would like to thank Ms. Laura Mestre Alvarez for her invaluable assistance with the laboratory work. We also wish to thank the anonymous reviewers for the interesting and challenging comments.

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  1. Department of Science and Health, enviroCORE, Molecular Ecology and Nematode Research Group, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, Ireland

    Stephen Boyle & Thomais Kakouli-Duarte

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  1. Stephen Boyle
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  2. Thomais Kakouli-Duarte
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Correspondence to Stephen Boyle.

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Boyle, S., Kakouli-Duarte, T. The behaviour of the nematode, Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) in sand contaminated with the industrial pollutant chromium VI. Ecotoxicology 27, 590–604 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-018-1932-6

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