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Ecotoxicology

Title:		Endocrine disruption of sexual selection by an estrogenic herbicide in the mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor)
Author(s):		McCallum ML; Matlock M; Treas J; Safi B; Sanson W; McCallum JL;
Address:		"Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64441, USA, malcolm.mccallum.tamut@gmail.com"
Journal Title:		Ecotoxicology
Year:		2013
Volume:		20131002
Issue:		10
Page Number:		1461 - 1466
DOI:		10.1007/s10646-013-1132-3
ISSN/ISBN:		1573-3017 (Electronic) 0963-9292 (Linking)
Abstract:		"The role that endocrine disruption could play in sexual selection remains relatively untested, and although estrogens occur in insects, little information exists about their biological role in insect reproduction. Atrazine is a commonly applied herbicide that mimics estrogen in vertebrates. Tenebrio molitor were raised from egg to adult under a gradation of environmentally relevant atrazine exposures and a non-treated control. Atrazine was delivered in the drinking water ad libitum. Female T. molitor were provided with a choice between unrelated males raised under three levels of atrazine exposures. Female preference for males demonstrated a non-monotonic inverted U-shaped response to atrazine exposure. There was no significant difference between the control and the high exposure to atrazine. Excluding the control, female preference increased as exposure concentration increased. These results have important repercussions for nonlethal effects of endocrine disruption on populations, their capacity to interfere with sexual selection, and the role of estrogen in pheromone communication among insects"
Keywords:		"Animals Atrazine/*toxicity Body Weight/drug effects Endocrine Disruptors/*toxicity *Environmental Exposure Female Fertility/drug effects Herbicides/*toxicity Larva/drug effects/growth & development Longevity/drug effects Male Mating Preference, Animal/*dr;"
Notes:		"MedlineMcCallum, Malcolm L Matlock, Makensey Treas, Justin Safi, Barroq Sanson, Wendy McCallum, Jamie L eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2013/10/03 Ecotoxicology. 2013 Dec; 22(10):1461-6. doi: 10.1007/s10646-013-1132-3. Epub 2013 Oct 2"