Heavy metals effect on unviable larvae of Dicrotendipes simpsoni (Diptera: Chironomidae), a case study from Saguling Dam, Indonesia

Heavy metals pollution can create negative effects on living organisms, as a teratogenic effect, which result in reproduction disorder that caused unviable embryos, mortality, etc. These unviable embryos can occur in the chironomidae of Saguling Dam, this being assumed as a result of heavy metals pollution in the dam. This study was aimed to analyze the relationship between the occurrence of heavy metals in the water surface of Saguling Dam with the unviable head morphology of insect larvae of diptera chironomidae: Dicrotendipes simpsoni. The study was done descriptively. Data of water quality (heavy metals) and D. simpsoni larvae were analyzed with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and then followed by simple correlation of Pearson Product Moment. This study found that Saguling Dam has been polluted by heavy metals resulting in some deformations in chironomidae larvae. The results of the study revealed that most of chironomidae suffered deformation, mainly on the head part. Antennal deformities were most likely to be characterized by high Cr concentration (r = 0.7099). Total deformities had a tendency to be characterized by Pb (r = 0.7055), and there is a high probability that pecten epipharyngis deformities was caused by Cu (r = 0.6131). AACL Bioflux, 2014, Volume 7, Issue 2, p. 76-84