Murray State University
Affect of Water Quality of Symmetry Growth in Dragonfly Larvae, Plathemis Lydia
Institution
Murray State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Claire Fuller
Abstract
Little is known about how water quality affects the growth and development of aquatic organisms. Body symmetry during growth is often a function of normal growth and may change in less than ideal conditions. For example, organisms in poor quality habitats are less symmetric. Thus, developmental symmetry could be used as an early indicator of water quality. If poor conditions can be caught early and corrected, there will be less impact on the environment. We are examining developmental symmetry of dragonfly larvae (Plathemis lydia) from ponds in Western Kentucky. Larvae and water samples were taken from 13 ponds in fall 2005 and 15 ponds in spring 2006 with an average of 10 larvae per pond. Each larva was examined by taking photographs through a dissecting microscope. Larvae were positioned in the pictures to check five different traits that had a left and a right portion (wings, abdomen and spike of 8th segment, leg joints, and setae). Water quality measures include both inorganic and organic contaminants as well as general measurements (e.g., temperature, dissolved oxygen). All measurements have been completed and analyses are currently being run to determine whether 1) different levels of developmental asymmetry occur among ponds and 2) whether developmental asymmetry is correlated with water quality.
Affect of Water Quality of Symmetry Growth in Dragonfly Larvae, Plathemis Lydia
Little is known about how water quality affects the growth and development of aquatic organisms. Body symmetry during growth is often a function of normal growth and may change in less than ideal conditions. For example, organisms in poor quality habitats are less symmetric. Thus, developmental symmetry could be used as an early indicator of water quality. If poor conditions can be caught early and corrected, there will be less impact on the environment. We are examining developmental symmetry of dragonfly larvae (Plathemis lydia) from ponds in Western Kentucky. Larvae and water samples were taken from 13 ponds in fall 2005 and 15 ponds in spring 2006 with an average of 10 larvae per pond. Each larva was examined by taking photographs through a dissecting microscope. Larvae were positioned in the pictures to check five different traits that had a left and a right portion (wings, abdomen and spike of 8th segment, leg joints, and setae). Water quality measures include both inorganic and organic contaminants as well as general measurements (e.g., temperature, dissolved oxygen). All measurements have been completed and analyses are currently being run to determine whether 1) different levels of developmental asymmetry occur among ponds and 2) whether developmental asymmetry is correlated with water quality.