Changes in Larval and Imago Behavior in Lead-exposed Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Lead is a pollutant that is often found in various locations that may affect the behavior of living things. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of lead exposure on behavior changes in Drosophila melanogaster. Flies were grouped into four levels of lead exposure: 0, 100, 150 and 200 ppm for two generations. Behavioral observations were made before and after lead exposure. The observed behavior was the ability of the pupae to climb through the pupa position assay and the success and speed of the imago climbing through the adult climbing assay. As a result, higher exposure to lead tends to increase the percentage of pupae in the low zone. Pupae with tilted orientation always have the highest percentage in all groups, both in generation 0 and generation 2. Furthermore, the results of the analysis of covariance inform that lead exposure have no significant effect on climbing duration and climbing success. Overall, lead exposure has the potential to affect the behavior of D. melanogaster. Further studies involving other behavioral assays need to be conducted to observe the effect of lead on all behavioral variables.