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A sensitive optical-based test method for the locomotor activity of earthworms.
- Source :
-
The Science of the total environment [Sci Total Environ] 2020 May 01; Vol. 715, pp. 136966. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Jan 27. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- The outdated test methodologies for terrestrial animals have limited the progress of soil ecotoxicology to some extent. To improve the behavioral testing of earthworms, a terrestrial model animal, a sensitive optical-based method for detecting locomotor activity was established. The method measured the fine quantified position offsets of each earthworm in place of a conventional overall response rate, which provided the feasibility for accurate analyses and comparisons. By setting appropriate thresholds, the time proportions of medium and burst states (mid-burdur%) could be an optimized endpoint with an ideal balance in output stability and sensitivity. In addition, we chose the head-end, which is the most flexible part of the earthworm, other than whole body to further elevate the sensitivity in indicating the changed traits. Using octopamine, serotonin, and a serial-dose of lindane exposure, the practice credibility of the test method was validated. Our developed locomotor test method overcame the innate characteristics of the earthworm, and was expected to provide a powerful phenotypic tool for ecological and ecotoxicological studies using earthworms and similar invertebrates.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.<br /> (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Ecotoxicology
Locomotion
Soil
Soil Pollutants
Oligochaeta
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1879-1026
- Volume :
- 715
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The Science of the total environment
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 32040999
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136966