Evaluation of Malathion and Fipronil insecticides effects on viability and regeneration of Girardia tigrina (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

• Grant number: 06/07201-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2007
• End date: December 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Aparecida Marin Morales
• Grantee: Davi Butturi Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of chemical substances to control bugs and weeds has been improved in the agriculture source last century. However, many questions about the elimination of these products of the environment and how not affect untargeted organisms have emerged. This question involves the accidental contamination and residual substances that may cause death, and others unpredictable effects, of a great part or even of a whole population of untargeted organisms. It's also observed, at several times, damages in the reproductive strategy of the expose organisms, which may implicate in the extinction of the endemic population. G. tigrina planarian is a turbelarian Platyhelminthe and its most important reproductive strategy is the sexless reproduction with the formation of regenerative blastemas. These turbelarians may be good organisms to toxicity tests and to evaluate sub-lethal effects, at last they are good environmental bioindicators. In this study will be carried out toxicity tests and evaluation of sub-lethal effects of Malation and Fipronil insecticides, and of another substance that has a proved toxic action, the Methyl Metanesulphonate, in the test system of Girardia tigrina.