A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä
Heavy metal pollution disturbs immune response in wild ant populations
Tekijät: Sorvari J, Rantala LM, Rantala MJ, Hakkarainen H, Eeva T
Kustantaja: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Julkaisuvuosi: 2007
Journal: Environmental Pollution
Tietokannassa oleva lehden nimi: ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Lehden akronyymi: ENVIRON POLLUT
Vuosikerta: 145
Numero: 1
Aloitussivu: 324
Lopetussivu: 328
Sivujen määrä: 5
ISSN: 0269-7491
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2006.03.004
Tiivistelmä
Concern about the effects of environmental contaminants on immune function in both humans and wildlife is growing and practically nothing is known about this impact on terrestrial invertebrates, even though they are known to easily accumulate pollutants. We studied the effect of industrial heavy metal contamination on immune defense of a free-living wood ant (Formica aquilonia). To find out whether ants show an adapted immune function in a polluted environment, we compared encapsulation responses between local and translocated colonies. Local colonies showed higher heavy metal levels than the translocated ones but the encapsulation response was similar between the two groups, indicating that the immune system of local ants has not adapted to high contamination level. The encapsulation response was elevated in moderate whereas suppressed in high heavy metal levels suggesting higher risk for infections in heavily polluted areas. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Concern about the effects of environmental contaminants on immune function in both humans and wildlife is growing and practically nothing is known about this impact on terrestrial invertebrates, even though they are known to easily accumulate pollutants. We studied the effect of industrial heavy metal contamination on immune defense of a free-living wood ant (Formica aquilonia). To find out whether ants show an adapted immune function in a polluted environment, we compared encapsulation responses between local and translocated colonies. Local colonies showed higher heavy metal levels than the translocated ones but the encapsulation response was similar between the two groups, indicating that the immune system of local ants has not adapted to high contamination level. The encapsulation response was elevated in moderate whereas suppressed in high heavy metal levels suggesting higher risk for infections in heavily polluted areas. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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