Scorpions are harmed by pollution of their habitats - A study of the leaf litter-dwelling scorpion Tityus pusillus in Brazil

 

It is well known that human activities that expands into untouched habitats of different animals will very often have a negative impact on the flora and fauna. Especially pollution can have negative short- and long term effects. Some of these can affect the genetic composition of organisms and causing harmful effects.

Aleson Aparecido da Silva and co-workers have recently published a study of populations of the leaf litter-dwelling Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Buthidae) from five sites in Northeast Brazil with different levels of human disturbance. A laboratory populations was also included as a control group. 

The results showed that DNA damage in T. pusillus from areas with human interference and pollution was higher than in the individuals from better-conserved environments. The authors believe that the observed effects may be due to the presence of genotoxic substances in the habitats (originating from human activities and pollution).

Abstract:
Invertebrates are harmed by pollution of their habitats. Litter-dwelling sedentary scorpions, such as Tityus pusillus, studied here, may be good models for examining the genotoxic effects of xenobiotics in soil. Thirty specimens were collected from five sites in Northeast Brazil with different levels of human disturbance, as well as a laboratory group. The comet assay was performed on hemolymph cell samples. Damage Index (DI) and Damage Frequency (DF%) were measured. Much higher genotoxicity was observed in animals collected in an area with human interference and solid waste, compared to those obtained in more pristine areas or the laboratory. T. pusillus may be a useful model for environmental genotoxicity assays.

Reference:
Silva AAd, Amorim ÉMd, Pereira MG, Santana SLd, Silva MAd, Lira AFdA, et al. Genotoxic effects of anthropogenic environments in the leaf litter-dwelling scorpion Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones; Buthidae). Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis. 2023;887:503585. [Subscription required for full text]