scholarly journals Tolerance of High Oral Doses of Nonradioactive and Radioactive Caesium Chloride in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly Zizeeria maha

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj D. Gurung ◽  
Wataru Taira ◽  
Ko Sakauchi ◽  
Masaki Iwata ◽  
Atsuki Hiyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Effects ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Internal Exposure ◽  
Plant Leaves ◽  
Caesium Chloride ◽  
Toxicological Data ◽  
Pale Grass Blue Butterfly ◽  
Oral Doses ◽  
Blue Butterfly ◽  
Butterfly Larvae

The biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident have been examined in the pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). In previous internal exposure experiments, larvae were given field-collected contaminated host plant leaves that contained up to 43.5 kBq/kg (leaf) of radioactive caesium. Larvae ingested up to 480 kBq/kg (larva), resulting in high mortality and abnormality rates. However, these results need to be compared with the toxicological data of caesium. Here, we examined the toxicity of both nonradioactive and radioactive caesium chloride on the pale grass blue butterfly. Larvae were fed a caesium-containing artificial diet, ingesting up to 149 MBq/kg (larva) of radioactive caesium (137Cs) or a much higher amount of nonradioactive caesium. We examined the pupation rate, eclosion rate, survival rate up to the adult stage, and the forewing size. In contrast to previous internal exposure experiments using field-collected contaminated leaves, we could not detect any effect. We conclude that the butterfly is tolerant to ionising radiation from 137Cs in the range tested but is vulnerable to radioactive contamination in the field. These results suggest that the biological effects in the field may be mediated through ecological systems and cannot be estimated solely based on radiation doses.

scholarly journals The Fukushima nuclear accident and the pale grass blue butterfly: evaluating biological effects of long-term low-dose exposures

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsuki Hiyama ◽  
Chiyo Nohara ◽  
Wataru Taira ◽  
Seira Kinjo ◽  
Masaki Iwata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Dose ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Nuclear Accident ◽  
Fukushima Nuclear Accident ◽  
Pale Grass Blue Butterfly ◽  
Blue Butterfly

scholarly journals Overwintering States of the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) at the Time of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident in March 2011

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakauchi ◽  
Taira ◽  
Toki ◽  
Iraha ◽  
Otaki
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Fourth Instar ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nuclear Accident ◽  
Fukushima Nuclear Accident ◽  
Pale Grass Blue Butterfly ◽  
Accumulated Temperature ◽  
Blue Butterfly

The Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011 caused the massive release of anthropogenic radioactive materials from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant to its surrounding environment. Its biological effects have been studied using the pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), but the overwintering states of this butterfly remain elusive. Here, we conducted a series of field surveys in March 2018, March 2019, and April 2019 in Fukushima and its vicinity to clarify the overwintering states of this butterfly at the time of the Fukushima nuclear accident. We discovered overwintering individuals in situ associated with the host plant Oxalis corniculata under natural straw mulch as first-instar to fourth-instar larvae in March 2018 and 2019. No other developmental stages were found. The body length and width were reasonably correlated with the accumulated temperature. On the basis of a linear regression equation between body size and accumulated temperature, together with other data, we deduced that the pale grass blue butterfly occurred as fourth-instar larvae in Fukushima and its vicinity at the time of the accident. This study paves the way for subsequent dosimetric analyses that determine the radiation doses absorbed by the butterfly after the accident.

scholarly journals Hepatic Gene Expression Changes in Rats Internally Exposed to Radioactive 56MnO2 Particles at Low Doses

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 758-766
Author(s):  
Bakhyt Ruslanova ◽  
Zhaslan Abishev ◽  
Nailya Chaizhunussova ◽  
Dariya Shabdarbayeva ◽  
Sholpan Tokesheva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Bomb ◽  
Kinase Inhibitor ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Nuclear Factor Κb ◽  
Internal Exposure ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gene Expressions ◽  
Γ Irradiation ◽  
Γ Rays

We have studied the biological effects of the internal exposure to radioactive manganese-56 dioxide (56MnO2), the major radioisotope dust found in soil after atomic bomb explosions. Our previous study of blood chemistry indicated a possible adverse effect of 56MnO2 on the liver. In the present study, we further examined the effects on the liver by determining changes in hepatic gene expressions. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 56MnO2 particles (three groups with the whole-body doses of 41, 90, and 100 mGy), stable MnO2 particles, or external 60Co γ-rays (2 Gy), and were examined together with the non-treated control group on postexposure day 3 and day 61. No histopathological changes were observed in the liver. The mRNA expression of a p53-related gene, the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A, increased in 56MnO2 as well as in γ-ray irradiated groups on postexposure day 3 and day 61. The expression of a stress-responsive gene, nuclear factor κB, was also increased by 56MnO2 and γ-rays on postexposure day 3. However, the expression of cytokine genes (interleukin-6 or chemokine ligand 2) or fibrosis-related TGF-β/Smad genes (Tgfb1, Smad3, or Smad4) was not altered by the exposure. Our data demonstrated that the internal exposure to 56MnO2 particles at less than 0.1 Gy significantly affected the short-term gene expressions in the liver in a similar manner with 2 Gy of external γ-irradiation. These changes may be adaptive responses because no changes occurred in cytokine or TGF-β/Smad gene expressions.

scholarly journals The biological impacts of ingested radioactive materials on the pale grass blue butterfly

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiyo Nohara ◽  
Atsuki Hiyama ◽  
Wataru Taira ◽  
Akira Tanahara ◽  
Joji M. Otaki
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Materials ◽  
Pale Grass Blue Butterfly ◽  
Biological Impacts ◽  
Blue Butterfly

scholarly journals Erratum: CORRIGENDUM: The biological impacts of the Fukushima nuclear accident on the pale grass blue butterfly

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsuki Hiyama ◽  
Chiyo Nohara ◽  
Seira Kinjo ◽  
Wataru Taira ◽  
Shinichi Gima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Accident ◽  
Fukushima Nuclear Accident ◽  
Pale Grass Blue Butterfly ◽  
Biological Impacts ◽  
Blue Butterfly

scholarly journals Dispersibility of the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) Revealed by One-Individual Tracking in the Field: Quantitative Comparisons between Subspecies and between Sexes

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Atsuki Hiyama ◽  
Joji M. Otaki
Keyword(s):  
Moving Average ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Environmental Indicator ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Moving Average Model ◽  
Pale Grass Blue Butterfly ◽  
Individual Tracking ◽  
The One ◽  
Blue Butterfly

The pale grass blue butterfly Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) has been used as an environmental indicator species for radioactive pollution after the Fukushima nuclear accident. Here, based on the one-individual tracking method in the field, we examined dispersal-associated and other behavioral traits of this butterfly, focusing on two subspecies, Z. maha argia in mainland Japan and Z. maha okinawana in Okinawa. The accumulated distances in the adult lifespan were 18.9 km and 38.2 km in mainland and Okinawa males, respectively, and 15.0 km and 7.8 km in mainland and Okinawa females, respectively. However, the mean distance from the starting point was only 24.2 m and 21.1 m in the mainland and Okinawa males, respectively, and 13.7 m and 7.4 m in the mainland and Okinawa females, respectively. Some quantitative differences in resting and feeding were found between subspecies and between sexes. The ARIMA (autoregressive integrated moving average) model indicated that the dispersal distance was 52.3 m (99% confidence interval value of 706.6 m) from the starting point in mainland males. These results support the idea that despite some behavioral differences, both subspecies of this butterfly are suitable as an environmental indicator because of the small dispersal ranges.

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