Atrazine exposure affects longevity, development time and body size in Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACT: Atrazine is the one of the most widely used herbicides in the United States and non-target organisms may encounter it in the environment. Atrazine is known to affect male reproduction in both vertebrates and invertebrates but less is known about its effects on other fitness traits. Here we assessed the effects of five different chronic exposure levels on a variety of fitness traits in Drosophila melanogaster. We measured male and female longevity, development time, proportion pupated, proportion emerged, body size, female mating rate, fertility and fecundity. Atrazine exposure decreased the proportion pupated, the proportion emerged and adult survival. Development time was also affected by atrazine and exposed flies pupated and emerged earlier than controls. Although development time was a

SUBMITTER: Marcus SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4969214 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug-Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature