Sodium and chloride regulation in freshwater and osmoconforming larvae ofCulexmosquitoes

Effects of soil on the development, survival, and oviposition of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes

BACKGROUND

Water quality is known to influence the development and survival of larval mosquitoes, which affects mosquito-borne pathogen transmission as a function of the number of mosquitoes that reach adulthood and blood feed. Although water properties are known to affect mosquito development, few studies have investigated the link among soil properties, water quality, and mosquito development. Given the large number of ground-breeding mosquito species, this linkage is a potentially important factor to consider in mosquito ecology. In this study, we explored the effects of different soils on multiple life history parameters of the ground-breeding mosquito species Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae).

METHODS

Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae were reared in water combined with different soil substrates (sandy, silt, or clay loam textures) at increasing soil to water volume ratios, with and without the addition of organic matter (fish food). Gravid mosquitoes were offered different soil-water extracts to investigate soil effects on oviposition preference.

RESULTS

Without the addition of organic matter, larval survival and development differed significantly among waters with different soil textures and volumes of substrate. Mosquitoes in water with clay loam soil survived longer and developed further than mosquitoes in other soil waters. Larvae survived for longer periods of time with increased volumes of soil substrate. Adding organic matter reduced the differences in larval survival time, development, and pupation among soil-water extracts. Adult female mosquitoes oviposited more frequently in water with clay loam soil, but the addition of organic matter reduced the soil effects on oviposition preference.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests soil composition affects larval mosquito survival and development, as well as the oviposition preference of gravid females. Future studies could differentiate abiotic and biotic soil features that affect mosquitoes and incorporate soil variation at the landscape scale into models to predict mosquito population dynamics and mosquito-borne pathogen transmission.

Voltage-gated ion channels are expressed in the Malpighian tubules and anal papillae of the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), and may regulate ion transport during salt and water imbalance

Vectors of infectious disease include several species of Aedes mosquitoes. The life cycle of Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito, consists of a terrestrial adult and an aquatic larval life stage. Developing in coastal waters can expose larvae to fluctuating salinity, causing salt and water imbalance, which is addressed by two prime osmoregulatory organs - the Malpighian tubules (MTs) and anal papillae (AP). Voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs) have recently been implicated in the regulation of ion transport in the osmoregulatory epithelia of insects. In the current study, we: (i) generated MT transcriptomes of freshwater-acclimated and brackish water-exposed larvae of Ae. aegypti, (ii) detected expression of several voltage-gated Ca2+, K+, Na+ and non-ion-selective ion channels in the MTs and AP using transcriptomics, PCR and gel electrophoresis, (iii) demonstrated that mRNA abundance of many altered significantly following brackish water exposure, and (iv) immunolocalized CaV1, NALCN, TRP/Painless and KCNH8 in the MTs and AP of larvae using custom-made antibodies. We found CaV1 to be expressed in the apical membrane of MTs of both larvae and adults, and its inhibition to alter membrane potentials of this osmoregulatory epithelium. Our data demonstrate that multiple VGICs are expressed in osmoregulatory epithelia of Ae. aegypti and may play an important role in the autonomous regulation of ion transport.

Physiological responses of freshwater insects to salinity: molecular-, cellular- and organ-level studies

Salinization of freshwater is occurring throughout the world, affecting freshwater biota that inhabit rivers, streams, ponds, marshes and lakes. There are many freshwater insects, and these animals are important for ecosystem health. These insects have evolved physiological mechanisms to maintain their internal salt and water balance based on a freshwater environment that has comparatively little salt. In these habitats, insects must counter the loss of salts and dilution of their internal body fluids by sequestering salts and excreting water. Most of these insects can tolerate salinization of their habitats to a certain level; however, when exposed to salinization they often exhibit markers of stress and impaired development. An understanding of the physiological mechanisms for controlling salt and water balance in freshwater insects, and how these are affected by salinization, is needed to predict the consequences of salinization for freshwater ecosystems. Recent research in this area has addressed the whole-organism response, but the purpose of this Review is to summarize the effects of salinization on the osmoregulatory physiology of freshwater insects at the molecular to organ level. Research of this type is limited, and pursuing such lines of inquiry will improve our understanding of the effects of salinization on freshwater insects and the ecosystems they inhabit.

Mosquito metallomics reveal copper and iron as critical factors for Plasmodium infection

Iron and copper chelation restricts Plasmodium growth in vitro and in mammalian hosts. The parasite alters metal homeostasis in red blood cells to its favor, for example metabolizing hemoglobin to hemozoin. Metal interactions with the mosquito have not, however, been studied. Here, we describe the metallomes of Anopheles albimanus and Aedes aegypti throughout their life cycle and following a blood meal. Consistent with previous reports, we found evidence of maternal iron deposition in embryos of Ae. aegypti, but less so in An. albimanus. Sodium, potassium, iron, and copper are present at higher concentrations during larval developmental stages. Two An. albimanus phenotypes that differ in their susceptibility to Plasmodium berghei infection were studied. The susceptible white stripe (ws) phenotype was named after a dorsal white stripe apparent during larval stages 3, 4, and pupae. During larval stage 3, ws larvae accumulate more iron and copper than the resistant brown stripe (bs) phenotype counterparts. A similar increase in copper and iron accumulation was also observed in the susceptible ws, but not in the resistant bs phenotype following P. berghei infection. Feeding ws mosquitoes with extracellular iron and copper chelators before and after receiving Plasmodium-infected blood protected from infection and simultaneously affected follicular development in the case of iron chelation. Unexpectedly, the application of the iron chelator to the bs strain reverted resistance to infection. Besides a drop in iron, iron-chelated bs mosquitoes experienced a concomitant loss of copper. Thus, the effect of metal chelation on P. berghei infectivity was strain-specific.

To establish a life cycle between insect and mammalian hosts, the malaria parasite has evolved mechanisms to manage metal ions from the distinct microenvironments it encounters. Previous work has addressed how interference using metal chelation affects parasite development in human, primate, and rodent hosts. Similar studies in mosquito species that harbor Plasmodium have not been performed. Here, we address such micronutrient relationships in three steps. First, we characterized how the metallome fluctuates during development in two species of mosquito. Second, we asked whether susceptibility to Plasmodium infection correlated with a differential response in mosquito metal homeostasis. Third, we tested the effects of iron and copper chelation treatment of adult mosquitoes concerning propensity of infection and mosquito reproduction. Metal ions offer a promising target in the ongoing efforts to control the mosquito-borne disease.

Toxicity of Terahertz-Based Functional Mineral Water (Plant-Derived) to Immature Stages of Mosquito Vectors

Simple Summary

In light of the shortcomings of using insecticides, there is an urgent need to explore alternative compounds that are effective for mosquito control with minimal adverse effects. The terahertz-based functional mineral water used in the current study exhibited concentration-dependent toxicity to mosquito larvae, pupae and larvivorous predatory copepods and could be a potential biodegradable and eco-friendly bioinsecticide.

Abstract

Functional mineral water and related products are popular in some Asian countries as health drinks and, recently, have been employed in agricultural crop production as well as pest control. This study aimed to investigate the survival of mosquito vectors exposed to plant-derived functional mineral water produced by terahertz technology. The terahertz-based functional mineral water used in the current study not only decreased the hatching of Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) larvae but also showed concentration-dependent toxicity to the 3rd instar larvae and pupae of the three mosquito species tested. Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Cx. quinquefasciatus pupae were more susceptible to terahertz-based functional mineral water than the larval stage, as indicated by their lower LC₅₀. Lower concentrations (<100 ppm) of terahertz-based functional mineral water were not lethal to the pupae; however, these low concentrations still resulted in a reduced adult emergence. Although terahertz-based functional mineral water did not significantly affect Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) hatching, it could potentially be used for vector control at the larvae and pupae stages. The larvicidal and pupicidal activity of diluted terahertz-based functional mineral water gradually diminished after 24 h, indicating that it is a biodegradable and eco-friendly bioinsecticide. However, as the terahertz-based functional mineral water is also toxic to larvivorous predatory-copepods, it should not be utilized in aquatic environments where predatory-based mosquito control programs are employed.

Modulation of physiological oxidative stress and antioxidant status by abiotic factors especially salinity in aquatic organisms

Exposure to a variety of environmental factors such as temperature, pH, oxygen and salinity may influence the oxidative status in aquatic organisms. The present review article focuses on the modulation of oxidative stress with reference to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in aquatic animals from different phyla. The focus of the review article is to explore the plausible mechanisms of physiological changes occurring in aquatic animals due to altered salinity in terms of oxidative stress. Apart from the seasonal variations in salinity, global warming and anthropogenic activities have also been found to influence oxidative health status of aquatic organisms. These effects are discussed with an objective to develop precautionary measures to protect the diversity of aquatic species with sustainable conservation. Comparative analyses among different aquatic species suggest that salinity alone or in combination with other abiotic factors are intricately associated with modulation in oxidative stress in a species-specific manner in aquatic animals. Osmoregulation under salinity stress in relation to energy demand and supply are also discussed. The literature survey of >50 years (1960-2020) indicates that oxidative stress status and comparative analysis of redox modulation have evolved from the analysis of various biotic and/or abiotic factors to the study of cellular signalling pathways in these aquatic organisms.

Influence of water's physical and chemical parameters on mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) assemblages in larval habitats in urban parks of São Paulo, Brazil

Water's physical and chemical characteristics are important constraints in aquatic ecosystems, acting on the development, survival, and adaptation of different organisms. Immature forms of mosquitoes develop in widely diverse aquatic environments and are mainly found in permanent or temporary freshwater bodies with little or no movement. The current study aimed to investigate whether variations in larval habitats' pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and water temperature influence the composition of Culicidae assemblages and the presence and abundance of Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti. From August 2012 to July 2013, captures of immature forms and measurement of water's physical and chemical profiles were performed monthly in natural and artificial breeding sites in four urban parks in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Changes in species composition related to the parameters' variation were assessed by multivariate analysis. Regression trees were performed to evaluate the effect of breeding sites' physical and chemical variations on the presence and abundance of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti. The observations suggest ranges of conditions for the measured variables in which most species tend to be found more frequently, and pH and salinity are the variables most closely associated with variations in mosquito composition. Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were present in both natural and artificial breeding sites and were observed under significantly varying conditions of pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. For Ae. albopictus, larval habitat type and pH were the best predictors of incidence and abundance. For Ae. aegypti, pH and salinity were the best predictors of abundance, while dissolved oxygen and larval habitat type were better predictors of presence. This information broadens our understanding of the ecology and interaction of the investigated species with abiotic factors in the aquatic environments, providing useful data for studies that seek to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of selection and colonization of breeding sites by these mosquitoes. This study also reinforces previous observations indicating that Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti can colonize diverse types of larval habitats with widely varying physical and chemical conditions.

Impact of salt-contaminated freshwater on osmoregulation and tracheal gill function in nymphs of the mayfly Hexagenia rigida

The impact of freshwater (FW) salinization on osmoregulation as well as tracheal gill morphology and function was examined in nymphs of the mayfly Hexagenia rigida following exposure to salt contaminated water (SCW, 7.25 g/l NaCl) for a 7-day period. Ionoregulatory homeostasis was perturbed in SCW exposed H. rigida nymphs as indicated by increased hemolymph Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^- levels as well as hemolymph pH and water content. Despite this, SCW did not alter gill Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase (NKA) or V-type H⁺-ATPase (VA) activity. In addition, NKA and VA immunolocalization in gill ionocytes did not show alterations in enzyme location or changes in ionocyte abundance. The latter observation was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine exposed tracheal gill ionocyte numbers. Ionocyte surface morphometrics also revealed that SCW did not change individual ionocyte surface area or ionocyte fractional surface area. Nevertheless, analysis of Na⁺ movement across the tracheal gill of mayfly nymphs using scanning ion-selective electrode technique indicated that FW nymphs acquired Na⁺ from surrounding water, while tracheal gills of SCW nymphs had the capacity to secrete Na⁺. Because Na⁺ secretion across the gill of SCW-exposed animals occurred in the absence of any change in (1) NKA and VA activity or (2) ionocyte numbers/surface exposure, it was reasoned that Na⁺ movement across the gill of SCW animals may be occurring, at least in part, through the paracellular pathway. The ultrastructure of tracheal gill septate junctions (SJs) supported this idea as they exhibited morphological alterations indicative of a leakier pathway. Data provide a first look at alterations in osmoregulatory mechanisms that allow H. rigida nymphs to tolerate sub-lethal salinization of their surroundings.

Evidence that Rh proteins in the anal papillae of the freshwater mosquito Aedes aegypti are involved in the regulation of acid-base balance in elevated salt and ammonia environments

Aedes aegypti commonly inhabit ammonia-rich sewage effluents in tropical regions of the world where the adults are responsible for the spread of disease. Studies have shown the importance of the anal papillae of A. aegypti in ion uptake and ammonia excretion. The anal papillae express ammonia transporters and Rhesus (Rh) proteins which are involved in ammonia excretion and studies have primarily focused on understanding these mechanisms in freshwater. In this study, effects of rearing larvae in salt (5 mmol l^-1 NaCl) or ammonia (5 mmol l^-1 NH₄Cl) on physiological endpoints of ammonia and ion regulation were assessed. In anal papillae of NaCl-reared larvae, Rh protein expression increased, NHE3 transcript abundance decreased and NH₄ ⁺ excretion increased, and this coincided with decreased hemolymph [NH₄ ⁺] and pH. We propose that under these conditions, larvae excrete more NH₄ ⁺ through Rh proteins as a means of eliminating acid from the hemolymph. In anal papillae of NH₄Cl-reared larvae, expression of an apical ammonia transporter and the Rh proteins decreased, the activities of NKA and VA decreased and increased, respectively, and this coincided with hemolymph acidification. The results present evidence for a role of Rh proteins in acid-base balance in response to elevated levels of salt, whereby ammonia is excreted as an acid equivalent.

The plasticity of extracellular fluid homeostasis in insects

In chemistry, the ratio of all dissolved solutes to the solution's volume yields the osmotic concentration. The present Review uses this chemical perspective to examine how insects deal with challenges to extracellular fluid (ECF) volume, solute content and osmotic concentration (pressure). Solute/volume plots of the ECF (hemolymph) reveal that insects tolerate large changes in all three of these ECF variables. Challenges beyond those tolerances may be 'corrected' or 'compensated'. While a correction simply reverses the challenge, compensation accommodates the challenge with changes in the other two variables. Most insects osmoregulate by keeping ECF volume and osmotic concentration within a wide range of tolerance. Other insects osmoconform, allowing the ECF osmotic concentration to match the ambient osmotic concentration. Aphids are unique in handling solute and volume loads largely outside the ECF, in the lumen of the gut. This strategy may be related to the apparent absence of Malpighian tubules in aphids. Other insects can suspend ECF homeostasis altogether in order to survive extreme temperatures. Thus, ECF homeostasis in insects is highly dynamic and plastic, which may partly explain why insects remain the most successful class of animals in terms of both species number and biomass.

RNA-Seq Comparison of Larval and Adult Malpighian Tubules of the Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti Reveals Life Stage-Specific Changes in Renal Function

Introduction: The life history of Aedes aegypti presents diverse challenges to its diuretic system. During the larval and pupal life stages mosquitoes are aquatic. With the emergence of the adult they become terrestrial. This shifts the organism within minutes from an aquatic environment to a terrestrial environment where dehydration has to be avoided. In addition, female mosquitoes take large blood meals, which present an entirely new set of challenges to salt and water homeostasis.

Methods: To determine differences in gene expression associated with these different life stages, we performed an RNA-seq analysis of the main diuretic tissue in A. aegypti, the Malpighian tubules. We compared transcript abundance in 4th instar larvae to that of adult females and analyzed the data with a focus on transcripts that encode proteins potentially involved in diuresis, like water and solute channels as well as ion transporters. We compared our results against the model of potassium- and sodium chloride excretion in the Malpighian tubules proposed by Hine et al. (2014), which involves at least eight ion transporters and a proton-pump.

Results: We found 3,421 of a total number of 17,478 (19.6%) unique transcripts with a P < 0.05 and at least a 2.5 fold change in expression levels between the two groups. We identified two novel transporter genes that are highly expressed in the adult Malpighian tubules, which have not previously been part of the transport model in this species and may play important roles in diuresis. We also identified candidates for hypothesized sodium and chloride channels. Detoxification genes were generally higher expressed in larvae.

Significance: This study represents the first comparison of Malpighian tubule transcriptomes between larval and adult A. aegypti mosquitoes, highlighting key differences in their renal systems that arise as they transform from an aquatic filter-feeding larval stage to a terrestrial, blood-feeding adult stage.

Toxicological perspective on the osmoregulation and ionoregulation physiology of major ions by freshwater animals: Teleost fish, crustacea, aquatic insects, and Mollusca

Anthropogenic sources increase freshwater salinity and produce differences in constituent ions compared with natural waters. Moreover, ions differ in physiological roles and concentrations in intracellular and extracellular fluids. Four freshwater taxa groups are compared, to investigate similarities and differences in ion transport processes and what ion transport mechanisms suggest about the toxicity of these or other ions in freshwater. Although differences exist, many ion transporters are functionally similar and may belong to evolutionarily conserved protein families. For example, the Na+ /H+ -exchanger in teleost fish differs from the H+ /2Na+ (or Ca2+ )-exchanger in crustaceans. In osmoregulation, Na+ and Cl- predominate. Stenohaline freshwater animals hyperregulate until they are no longer able to maintain hypertonic extracellular Na+ and Cl- concentrations with increasing salinity and become isotonic. Toxic effects of K+ are related to ionoregulation and volume regulation. The ionic balance between intracellular and extracellular fluids is maintained by Na+ /K+ -adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), but details are lacking on apical K+ transporters. Elevated H+ affects the maintenance of internal Na+ by Na+ /H+ exchange; elevated HCO3- inhibits Cl- uptake. The uptake of Mg2+ occurs by the gills or intestine, but details are lacking on Mg2+ transporters. In unionid gills, SO42- is actively transported, but most epithelia are generally impermeant to SO42- . Transporters of Ca2+ maintain homeostasis of dissolved Ca2+ . More integration of physiology with toxicology is needed to fully understand freshwater ion effects. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:576-600. Published 2016 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

Serological Survey of West Nile Virus in Domestic Animals from Northwest Senegal

In Africa, infection with West Nile virus (WNV) is frequent but almost always asymptomatic in humans and equids. The aim of this study was to identify whether any other domestic animal living in the same enzootic locality may be the sentinel of WNV circulation. In northwest Senegal, blood samples were collected from 283 adult domestic animals (136 sheep, 64 horses, 29 donkeys, 29 goats, 14 cattle, and 11 dogs), in three localities near Keur Momar Sarr. Each serum was tested for WNV immunoglobulin G using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The prevalence among donkeys, horses, dogs, goats, cattle, and sheep was 86.2%, 68.7%, 27.3%, 6.9%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. This survey confirms that equids and dogs could be the best sentinel animals for surveillance of WNV. The ruminants do not play a role in WNV epidemiology.

Comparative sodium transport patterns provide clues for understanding salinity and metal responses in aquatic insects

The importance of insects in freshwater ecosystems has led to their extensive use in ecological monitoring programs. As freshwater systems are increasingly challenged by salinization and metal contamination, it is important to understand fundamental aspects of aquatic insect physiology (e.g., osmoregulatory processes) that contribute to insect responses to these stressors. Here we compared the uptake dynamics of Na as NaCl, NaHCO3 and Na2SO4 in the caddisfly Hydropsyche betteni across a range of Na concentrations (0.06-15.22 mM) encompassing the vast majority of North American freshwater ecosystems. Sulfate as the major anion resulted in decreased Na uptake rates relative to the chloride and bicarbonate salts. A comparison of Na (as NaHCO3) turnover rates in the caddisfly Hydropsyche sparna and the mayfly Maccaffertium sp. revealed different patterns in the 2 species. Both species appeared to tightly regulate their whole body sodium concentrations (at ∼47±1.8 μmol/g wet wt) across a range of Na concentrations (0.06-15.22 mM) over 7 days. However, at the highest Na concentration (15.22 mM), Na uptake rates in H. sparna (419.1 μM Na g(-1) hr(-1) wet wt) appeared close to saturation while Na uptake rates in Maccaffertium sp. were considerably faster (715 g μM Na g(-1) hr(-1) wet wt) and appeared to not be close to saturation. Na efflux studies in H. sparna revealed that loss rates are commensurate with uptake rates and are responsive to changes in water Na concentrations. A comparison of Na uptake rates (at 0.57 mM Na) across 9 species representing 4 major orders (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Diptera) demonstrated profound physiological differences across species after accounting for the influence of body weight. Faster Na uptake rates were associated with species described as being sensitive to salinization in field studies. The metals silver (Ag) and copper (Cu), known to be antagonistic to Na uptake in other aquatic taxa did not generally exhibit this effect in aquatic insects. Ag only reduced Na uptake at extremely high concentrations, while Cu generally stimulated Na uptake in aquatic insects, rather than suppress it. These results help explain the lack of insect responses to dissolved metal exposures in traditional toxicity testing and highlight the need to better understand fundamental physiological processes in this ecologically important faunal group.

An in vitro bioassay for the quantitative evaluation of mosquito repellents against Stegomyia aegypti (=Aedes aegypti) mosquitoes using a novel cocktail meal

To assess the efficacy of new insect repellents, an efficient and safe in vitro bioassay system using a multiple-membrane blood-feeding device and a cocktail meal was developed. The multiple-membrane blood-feeding device facilitates the identification of new insect repellents by the high-throughput screening of candidate chemicals. A cocktail meal was developed as a replacement for blood for feeding females of Stegomyia aegypti (=Aedes aegypti) (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae). The cocktail meal consisted of a mixture of salt, albumin and dextrose, to which adenosine triphosphate was added to induce engorging. Feeding rates of St. aegypti on the cocktail meal and pig blood, respectively, did not differ significantly, but were significantly higher than the feeding rate on citrate phosphate dextrose-adenine 1 (CPDA-1) solutions, which had been used to replace bloodmeals in previous repellent assays. Dose-dependent biting inhibition rates were analysed using probit analysis. The RD(50) (the dose producing 50% repellence of mosquito feeding) values of DEET, citronella, carvacrol, geraniol, eugenol and thymol were 1.62, 14.40, 22.51, 23.29, 23.83 and 68.05 µg/cm(2), respectively.

The contrasting bionomics of Culex mosquitoes in western North America

Mosquitoes in the genus Culex are the primary enzootic maintenance and bridge vectors of the North American encephalitides, now including West Nile virus. This review briefly summarizes the biology of three key vector species in western North America, Culex tarsalis, Cx. pipiens complex and Cx. stigmatosoma, focusing on the long history of research done in California. Topics reviewed include population genetic structure, larval ecology, autogeny, mating behavior, host-seeking behavior, host-selection patterns, and overwintering strategies. These attributes collectively have allowed the successful exploitation of anthropogenically altered ecosystems and enabled the role of these species as maintenance and bridge vectors of arboviruses.

Pharmacological characterisation of apical Na+ and Cl- transport mechanisms of the anal papillae in the larval mosquito Aedes aegypti

The anal papillae of freshwater mosquito larvae are important sites of NaCl uptake, thereby acting to offset the dilution of the hemolymph by the dilute habitat. The ion-transport mechanisms in the anal papillae are not well understood. In this study, the scanning ion-selective electrode technique (SIET) was utilized to measure ion fluxes at the anal papillae, and pharmacological inhibitors of ion transport were utilized to identify ion-transport mechanisms. Na(+) uptake by the anal papillae was inhibited by bafilomycin and phenamil but not by HMA. Cl(-) uptake was inhibited by methazolamide, SITS and DIDS but not by bafilomycin. H(+) secretion was inhibited by bafilomycin and methazolamide. Ouabain and bumetanide had no effect on NaCl uptake or H(+) secretion. Together, the results suggest that Na(+) uptake at the apical membrane occurs through a Na(+) channel that is driven by a V-type H(+)-ATPase and that Cl(-) uptake occurs through a Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchanger, with carbonic anhydrase providing H(+) and HCO(3)(-) to the V-type H(+)-ATPase and exchanger, respectively.

Rapid evolution of body fluid regulation following independent invasions into freshwater habitats

Colonizations from marine to freshwater environments constitute among the most dramatic evolutionary transitions in the history of life. Colonizing dilute environments poses great challenges for acquiring essential ions against steep concentration gradients. This study explored the evolution of body fluid regulation following freshwater invasions by the copepod Eurytemora affinis. The goals of this study were to determine (1) whether invasions from saline to freshwater habitats were accompanied by evolutionary shifts in body fluid regulation (hemolymph osmolality) and (2) whether parallel shifts occurred during independent invasions. We measured hemolymph osmolality for ancestral saline and freshwater invading populations reared across a range of common-garden salinities (0.2-25 PSU). Our results revealed the evolution of increased hemolymph osmolality (by 16-31%) at lower salinities in freshwater populations of E. affinis relative to their saline ancestors. Moreover, we observed the same evolutionary shifts across two independent freshwater invasions. Such increases in hemolymph osmolality are consistent with evidence of increased ion uptake in freshwater populations at low salinity, found in a previous study, and are likely to entail increased energetic costs upon invading freshwater habitats. Our findings are consistent with the evolution of increased physiological regulation accompanying transitions into stressful environments.

The sensitivity of aquatic insects to divalent metals: a comparative analysis of laboratory and field data

Laboratory studies have traditionally indicated that aquatic insects are relatively insensitive to metals while field studies have suggested them to be among the most sensitive aquatic invertebrate taxa. We reviewed and synthesized available studies in the literature to critically assess why this discrepancy exists. Despite the intense effort to study the effects of metals on aquatic biota over the past several decades, we found studies specific to insects to still be relatively limited. In general, the discrepancy between laboratory and field studies continues with few efforts having been made to elucidate the ecological and physiological mechanisms that underlie the relative sensitivity (or insensitivity) of aquatic insects to metals. However, given the limited data available, it appears that aquatic insects are indeed relatively insensitive to acute metal exposures. In contrast, we suggest that some aquatic insect taxa may be quite sensitive to chronic metal exposure and in some cases may not be protected by existing water quality criteria for metals. The discrepancy between laboratory and field studies with respect to chronic sensitivity appears to largely be driven by the relatively short exposure periods in laboratory studies as compared to field studies. It also appears that, in some cases, the sensitivity of aquatic insects in field studies may be the result of direct effects on primary producers, which lead to indirect effects via the food chain on aquatic insects. Finally, available evidence suggests that diet is an important source of metal accumulation in insects, but to date there have been no conclusive studies evaluating whether dietary metal accumulation causes toxicity. There is a clear need for developing a more mechanistic understanding of aquatic insect sensitivity to metals in long-term laboratory and field studies.

Larvae of the midge Chironomus riparius possess two distinct mechanisms for ionoregulation in response to ion-poor conditions

This study examined the role of the anal papillae of the freshwater (FW) chironomid larva Chironomus riparius in ionoregulation under ion-poor conditions. The scanning ion-selective electrode technique (SIET) was utilized to characterize the species, direction, and rates of inorganic ion transport by the anal papillae following acute and long-term exposure to ion-poor water (IPW). The major inorganic ions in the hemolymph of larvae treated as above were measured using standard ion-selective microelectrodes. The anal papillae of C. riparius are sites of net NaCl uptake and H(+) secretion under FW and IPW conditions and are not likely to be a major contributor of K(+) exchange. Acute and long-term exposure to IPW increased total net transport of Na(+), Cl(-), and H(+) by the anal papillae, but the mechanisms underlying the increase under the two conditions were different. Acute IPW exposure increased the magnitude of net ion fluxes at sites along the anal papillae, while long-term IPW exposure resulted in increased size of the anal papillae with no change in the magnitude of net ion fluxes. The contribution of the anal papillae to observed alterations of hemolymph ion activities upon exposure to IPW is discussed. Inhibitors of the Na(+)/H(+) exchangers (EIPA) and carbonic anhydrase (methazolamide) provide evidence for Na(+)/H(+) and Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchange mechanisms in the anal papillae. This study demonstrates that C. riparius larvae employ two different mechanisms to upregulate the total net transport of ions by the anal papillae, and these mechanisms are at least partially responsible for regulating hemolymph ion activity.

Changing salinity induces alterations in hemolymph ion concentrations and Na+ and Cl- transport kinetics of the anal papillae in the larval mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Mosquito larvae are found in diverse aquatic habitats ranging from freshwater to hypersaline water and must often deal with rapid changes in habitat salinity. We transferred larvae of Aedes aegypti from freshwater to 30% seawater, or vice versa, and measured the time course of changes in their hemolymph ion concentrations, using ion-selective microelectrodes. We also reported the Michaelis-Menten kinetics of Na(+) and Cl(-) transport by the anal papillae for the first time using the scanning ion-selective electrode technique (SIET). Hemolymph concentrations of Na(+), Cl(-) and H(+) increased within 6 h, when larvae were transferred from freshwater to seawater and decreased within 6 h, when transferred from seawater to freshwater. Kinetic parameters for Na(+) and Cl(-) transport by the anal papillae were altered after only 5 h following transfer between freshwater (FW) and 30% seawater (30%SW). The J(max) (maximum transport rate) for both ions decreased when larvae were transferred to 30%SW, whereas the K(t) (a measure of transporter affinity) increased for Na(+) transport but was unaltered for Cl(-) transport, suggesting that Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake are independent. Data reveal significant changes in ion transport by the anal papillae of mosquito larvae when they are faced with changes in external salinity such that Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake decrease in higher salinity. The alterations in Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake may be a consequence of changes in hemolymph ion levels when larvae encounter altered salinity. The rapid changes in ion transport described here compliment the previously observed long term alterations in the morphology and ultrastructure of the anal papillae.

Secretion of water and ions by malpighian tubules of larval mosquitoes: effects of diuretic factors, second messengers, and salinity

The effects of changes in the salinity of the rearing medium on Malpighian tubule fluid secretion and ion transport were examined in larvae of the freshwater mosquito Aedes aegypti and the saltwater species Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus. For unstimulated tubules of both species, the K(+) concentration of secreted fluid was significantly lower when larvae were reared in 30% or 100% seawater (O. taeniorhynchus only), relative to tubules from freshwater-reared larvae. The Na(+) concentration of secreted fluid from unstimulated tubules of O. taeniorhynchus reared in 30% or 100% seawater was higher relative to tubules from freshwater-reared larvae. The results suggest that changes in salinity of the larval rearing medium lead to sustained changes in ion transport mechanisms in unstimulated tubules. Furthermore, alterations of K(+) transport may be utilized to either conserve Na(+) under freshwater (Na(+)-deprived) conditions or eliminate more Na(+) in saline (Na(+)-rich) conditions. The secretagogues cyclic AMP [cAMP], cyclic GMP [cGMP], leucokinin-VIII, and thapsigargin stimulated fluid secretion by tubules of both species. Cyclic AMP increased K(+) concentration and decreased Na(+) concentration in the fluid secreted by tubules isolated from O. taeniorhynchus larvae reared in 100% seawater. Interactions between rearing salinity and cGMP actions were similar to those for cAMP. Leucokinin-VIII and thapsigargin had no effect on secreted fluid Na(+) or K(+) concentrations. Results indicate that changes in rearing medium salinity affect the nature and extent of stimulation of fluid and ion secretion by secretagogues.

Differences in dissolved cadmium and zinc uptake among stream insects: mechanistic explanations

This study examined the extent to which dissolved Cd and Zn uptake rates vary in several aquatic insect taxa commonly used as indicators of ecological health. We further attempted to explain the mechanisms underlying observed differences. By comparing dissolved Cd and Zn uptake rates in several aquatic insect species, we demonstrated that species vary widely in these processes. Dissolved uptake rates were not related to gross morphological features such as body size or gill size--features that influence water permeability and therefore have ionoregulatory importance. However, finer morphological features, specifically, the relative numbers of ionoregulatory cells (chloride cells), appeared to be related to dissolved metal uptake rates. This observation was supported by Michaelis-Menten type kinetics experiments, which showed that dissolved Cd uptake rates were driven by the numbers of Cd transporters and not by the affinities of those transporters to Cd. Calcium concentrations in exposure media similarly affected Cd and Zn uptake rates in the caddisfly Hydropsyche californica. Dissolved Cd and Zn uptake rates strongly co-varied among species, suggesting that these metals are transported by similar mechanisms.

The characterization of ion regulation in Amazonian mosquito larvae: evidence of phenotypic plasticity, population-based disparity, and novel mechanisms of ion uptake

This study is the first step in characterizing ion uptake mechanisms of mosquito larvae from the Amazon region of Brazil. Hemolymph NaCl levels and rates of unidirectional Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake were measured in larvae of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus in a series of environmental manipulations that are known to challenge ion regulation in other aquatic animals. Despite being reared for numerous generations in dilute media (20 micromol L(-1) NaCl), both species were able to maintain high hemolymph NaCl concentrations, a departure from previous studies. Exposure to distilled water or high-NaCl media did not affect hemolymph ion levels, but pH 3 caused significant decreases in hemolymph Na(+) and Cl(-) levels in both species. Exposure to water from Rio Negro (pH 5.5), an organically rich but ion-poor body of water, did not disturb hemolymph Na(+) and Cl(-) levels or the uptake of these ions. Acute exposure to control media or Rio Negro water titrated to pH 3.5 caused inhibition of Na(+) uptake and stimulation of Cl(-) uptake in C. quinquefasciatus, but A. aegypti larvae experienced only a significant reduction of Na(+) uptake in Rio Negro/pH 3.5 treatment. The stimulation of Cl(-) uptake at low pH has been documented only in aquatic insects and differs from all other invertebrate and vertebrate species. A similar pattern of Na(+) uptake inhibition and Cl(-) uptake stimulation was observed in A. aegypti larvae exposed to bafilomycin A(1), a blocker of V-type H(+) ATPase. Culex quinquefasciatus larvae were unaffected by this drug. Both Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake were reduced when C. quinquefasciatus larvae were exposed to acetazolamide, indicating that H(+) and HCO(3)(-), derived from hydration of CO(2), are involved with Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake. Kinetic analysis of Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake in C. quinquefasciatus, A. aegypti, and Anopheles nuneztovari larvae indicate that these Amazonian species share similar high-capacity and high-affinity mechanisms. Comparison of the Amazonian C. quinquefasciatus with a Californian population provided evidence of both phenotypic plasticity and population disparity in Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake, respectively. When the California population of C. quinquefasciatus was reared in a medium similar to that of the Amazonian group (60 micromol L(-1) NaCl) instead of 4,000 micromol L(-1) NaCl, larvae increased both Na(+) uptake capacity (J(max)) and affinity (i.e., reduced K(m)), yet Cl(-) uptake did not change from its nonsaturating, low-capacity pattern. In the reverse experiment, Amazonian C. quinquefasciatus demonstrated plasticity in both Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake by significantly reducing rates when held in 4,000 micromol L(-1) NaCl for 3 d.

Ion regulatory patterns of mosquito larvae collected from breeding sites in the Amazon rain forest

We examined the ion composition of mosquito breeding sites located in the Amazon rain forest and the ion regulatory patterns of larvae from these habitats. We found larvae of Toxorhynchites haemorroidalis, Limatus durhamii, Culex (Carrollia) bonnei, and Culex (Culex) sp. residing in fallen palm bracts, leaves, and tree holes that were filled with water. These breeding sites had micromolar levels of Na(+) (1.6-99 micromol L(-1)), but K(+) and Cl(-) concentrations were higher and varied over a large range (231-17,615 micromol L(-1) K(+); 355-2,700 micromol L(-1) Cl(-)). Despite the variability in environmental ion levels and ratios, all four species maintain high hemolymph NaCl levels (80-120 mmol L(-1) Na(+); 60-80 mmol L(-1) Cl(-)). However, the species differed in the means by which they maintain hemolymph ion balance, as indicated by the range of unidirectional Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake rates. Toxorhynchites haemorroidalis had extremely low rates of Na(+) uptake and undetectable Cl(-) uptake, whereas L. durhamii had high rates of uptake for both ions. This variability in rates of uptake may reflect species differences in rates of diffusive ion loss (i.e., permeability). We observed the same curious pattern of Na(+) inhibition and Cl(-) stimulation by low-pH exposure in all four species of mosquitoes, as has been documented in other mosquitoes and aquatic insects. Kinetic analyses of Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake in C. bonnei larvae revealed an unusual pattern of Na(+) uptake that increases linearly (nonsaturable) to extremely high rates, while Cl(-) uptake is a low-affinity, low-capacity system. This pattern contrasts with L. durhamii and Culex (Culex) sp. larvae, which had large increases in both Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake when external NaCl levels were increased. Our results suggest that although these rain forest mosquito larvae are residing in habitats with similar low Na(+), high Cl(-) composition and maintain similar hemolymph NaCl levels, the underlying mechanisms of ion regulation differ among the species.