Reduced Abundance Of Insects And Spiders Linked To Radiation At Chernobyl 20 Years After The Accident
Main Category: Radiology / Nuclear MedicineArticle Date: 23 Mar 2009 - 4:00 PDT
email to a friend 
printer friendly 
opinions
Effects of low-level radiation on the abundance of animals are poorly known. We conducted standardized censuses of bumblebees, butterflies, grasshoppers, dragonflies and spider webs at forest sites around Chernobyl differing in background radiation by over four orders of magnitude.
Abundance of invertebrates decreased with increasing radiation, even after controlling for effects of soil type, habitat and height of vegetation.
These effects were stronger when comparing plots differing in radiation within rather than among sites, implying that the ecological effects of radiation from Chernobyl on animals are greater than previously assumed.
Royal Society Journal Biology Letters
Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of the journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org
Visit our radiology / nuclear medicine section for the latest news on this subject.
MLA
13 Feb. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/143275.php>
APA
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/143275.php.
Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.
|
Rate this article: (Hover over the stars then click to rate) |
Patient / Public: |
or |
Health Professional: |
Visitor Opinions In Chronological Order (1)
Not All Animals Are Invertebrates
posted by Mary Mycio on 26 Mar 2009 at 3:03 am
While this particular study is new, it is not news that insects — especially those whose larvae develop in the soil — are vulnerable to radiation. Ukrainian researchers have published examples of birds and invertebrates suffering ill effects in highly radioactive areas.
What I find disturbing about this synopsis and the news reports about this research is the obfuscation introduced by the use of "animal". While technically correct, it seems to have led to confusion that all species of animals are similarly affected when, in fact, large animal species are doing quite well in the Chernobyl zone.
Having traveled there more than 25 times to research my book: Wormwood Forest: A Natural History of Chernobyl, I can attest to having seen more large animals in Chernobyl than anywhere else in Ukraine -- and I lived and traveled there for 16 years. So, it will be interesting to see the results of Mousseau's large animal studies when they are published.
Add Your Opinion
Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.
All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)
Contact Our News Editors
For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.
Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:
Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.
Privacy Policy |
Terms and Conditions
MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.
