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Mercury Content in Water Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae) of Different Size Classes

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Abstract

The content of mercury in adult water beetles is studied in beaver ponds located in the Polist-Lovat Swamp System (Novgorod oblast). A total of 201 individuals of nine species of the family Dytiscidae and one species of the family Hydrophilidae (size classes II and III) are studied. It is revealed that the mercury content in beetles of size class II differs significantly between species (χ2 = 32.93, p < 0.01). Maximum concentrations were found in Graphoderus cinereus (0.259 ± 0.091 µg/g dry weight), while minimum concentrations were recorded in Hydrochara caraboides (0.091 ± 0.020 µg/g dry weight). There were no significant differences in the mercury content between the III size class beetles (largest beetles) of the studied species. In beetles of size class II, the concentration of mercury decreases in the body with an increase in the body weight (Kendall rank coefficient τ = –0.31, p < 0.01). The mercury content in the body parts of beetles of the genus Dytiscus increases in order: the elytra and wings-legs-head and thorax-abdomen.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank N.A. Zav’yalov (Rdeisky State Nature Reserve, town of Kholm, Novgorod oblast) for assistance in carrying out the field works and collecting the material.

Funding

This study was performed within the framework of a state assignment (project no. AAAA-A18-118012690123-4 and AAAA-A18-118012690105-0 and supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research within the framework of scientific project no. 18-34-00569.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Nekouzskii raion, Yaroslavl oblast, Russia

    Yu. G. Udodenko, A. A. Prokin, D. G. Seleznev & A. S. Sazhnev

  2. Cherepovets State University, Cherepovets, Russia

    Yu. G. Udodenko, A. A. Prokin & E. S. Ivanova

Authors
  1. Yu. G. Udodenko
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  2. A. A. Prokin
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  3. D. G. Seleznev
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  4. A. S. Sazhnev
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  5. E. S. Ivanova
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Correspondence to Yu. G. Udodenko.

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Translated by D. Zabolotny

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Udodenko, Y.G., Prokin, A.A., Seleznev, D.G. et al. Mercury Content in Water Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae) of Different Size Classes. Inland Water Biol 13, 684–690 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995082920040124

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