A biomarker assessment of pesticide toxicity in endemic, native peregrine, and invasive earthworm species from the Muthalamada mango plantations, Kerala, India

Chandini Palakkunnel Kuttappan; Sasankan Prasanth Narayanan; Syamkumar Reghu Nandanan Pillai; Rajathy Sivalingam; Naveena Kannegowda; Jayasooryan Kazhuthoottil Kochu; Gayathry Olodathil Sadanandan; Maneesh Kumar Shappumkunnath

doi:10.63095/NBSEH.25.850535

Authors

Chandini Palakkunnel Kuttappan Inter University Centre for Organic Farming and Sustainable Agriculture, Mahatma Gandhi University (https://ror.org/05n7bzj69), Priyadarshini Hills P.O, Kottayam, Kerala, India -686 560
Sasankan Prasanth Narayanan Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University (https://ror.org/05n7bzj69), Priyadarshini Hills, Kottayam - 686 560, Kerala, India
Syamkumar Reghu Nandanan Pillai School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology (https://ror.org/00a4kqq17), Kochi, Kerala, India
Rajathy Sivalingam Inter University Centre for Organic Farming and Sustainable Agriculture, Mahatma Gandhi University (https://ror.org/05n7bzj69), Priyadarshini Hills P.O, Kottayam, Kerala, India -686 560
Naveena Kannegowda Centre for Water Resource Development and Management (https://ror.org/05gvg0p95), Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Jayasooryan Kazhuthoottil Kochu Centre for Water Resource Development and Management (https://ror.org/05gvg0p95), Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Gayathry Olodathil Sadanandan School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology (https://ror.org/00a4kqq17), Kochi, Kerala, India
Maneesh Kumar Shappumkunnath School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology (https://ror.org/00a4kqq17), Kochi, Kerala, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63095/NBSEH.25.850535

Keywords:

Earthworms, Pesticides, Toxicity, Enzyme biomarkers, Mango plantations

Abstract

This study assessed the toxic effects of pesticide exposure on four earthworm species: Perionyx excavatus Perrier, 1872; Megascolex konkanensis Fedarb, 1898; Dichogaster affinis (Michaelsen, 1890); and Metaphire houlleti (Perrier, 1872). The organisms were exposed to pesticide-treated soil. Biomass reduction, immunotoxicity, and enzyme biomarkers were used as endpoints. Among the tested species, M. konkanensis, a native species, appeared more sensitive than the others. In biomass tests, chlorpyrifos showed no significant effect on final body mass (p > 0.05). P. excavatus showed a significant reduction in body mass between 0.001 and 0.02 ppm of the pesticide mixture (p < 0.05), and exhibited avoidance behaviour. M. konkanensis showed avoidance at 0.02 ppm of the mixture but not at lower concentrations. Changes in AChE, LPO, GST, and CAT activities indicated pesticide-related stress. These results support the use of P. excavatus, D. affinis, and M. houlleti as indicators for soil contamination by pesticides.

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