IMAR-CMA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Environ Toxicol Chem. 2013 Apr;32(4):884-8. doi: 10.1002/etc.2120. Epub 2013 Feb 21.
Organisms inhabiting metal-contaminated areas may develop metal tolerance, with either phenotypic adjustments or genetic changes (adaptation) or with both. In the present study, three populations of the terrestrial isopod Porcellionides sexfasciatus, collected at an abandoned mine area, were compared to assess the effects of metal contamination on tolerance to lethal and sublethal levels of copper, through comparison of survival, avoidance, and feeding. The effects of metal contamination on genetic diversity were considered using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. No evidence of increased metal tolerance of the population inhabiting the contaminated site was found. There was no correlation between metal exposure and within-population genetic variance, but the three populations were clearly separated from each other. In conclusion, the populations of P. sexfasciatus in the mine landscape live rather isolated from each other and show no differential tolerance to Cu or indications of genetic erosion. Their phenotypic plasticity provides a means to survive despite exposure to extremely high metal concentrations in the soil.
栖息在金属污染地区的生物可能会通过表型调整或遗传变化（适应）或两者兼而有之来适应金属耐受。在本研究中，比较了三个采自废弃矿区的陆生等足目 Porcellionides sexfasciatus 种群，以通过比较生存、回避和摄食来评估金属污染对致死和亚致死水平铜的耐受性的影响。使用随机扩增多态性 DNA (RAPD) 标记来考虑金属污染对遗传多样性的影响。没有发现栖息在污染地点的种群金属耐受性增加的证据。金属暴露与种群内遗传方差之间没有相关性，但这三个种群彼此明显分离。总之，矿区的 P. sexfasciatus 种群彼此之间生活相对隔离，对 Cu 没有不同的耐受性，也没有遗传侵蚀的迹象。它们的表型可塑性提供了一种在土壤中暴露于极高金属浓度下生存的手段。
