THE INFLUENCE OF ATRAZINE ON THE REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF Eisenia foetida (Oligochaeta)
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Hood College Biology
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Biomedical and Environmental Science
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Abstract
In addition to their carcinogenic or mutagenic capabilities, pesticides
and toxic industrial wastes may have profound effects on wildlife
reproduction by mimicking the female hormone estrogen. It is believed that
hormonal feminization is widespread in the animal kingdom and could
even affect human health and reproduction. Although many of these
chemicals are controlled, restricted or banned, even small amounts already
present in the environment could have adverse effects for decades. Many
pesticides used in modern agriculture are believed to belong to a family of
estrogenic chemicals.
Following range-finding toxicity tests, a laboratory experiment was
conducted using sublethal doses of AAtrex, a formulation of the agricultural
herbicide atrazine, to examine potential reproductive effects on the
earthworm Eisenia foetida. Because of their direct contact with the soil,
earthworms are ideal nontarget organisms for pesticide testing. Increased
concentrations of atrazine resulted in greater weight loss in worms. Higher
levels of atrazine had a negative effect on the ratio of combined weight of the
male reproductive organs to the worm's final body mass at the conclusion of
the experiment. Increased atrazine concentrations also had a negative impact
on sperm density within the seminal vesicles and testes compared to their
organ weights. Numbers of cocoons produced and cocoon hatching success
were also adversely affected.
The results indicate that atrazine could very well be an environmental
hazard for the earthworm E. foe tida by greatly reducing its reproductive
potential. A reduction in earthworm populations results in lower soil
fertility. Knowledge of such "non-lethal" pesticide effects has great predictive
value in examining reproductive disturbances in many other beneficial soil
invertebrate species.