Gut Microbiota and Accumulation of Heavy Metals: A New Study of Water Scorpions (Hemiptera: Nepidae)

Abstract

This is a multidisciplinary study that examines the accumulation of heavy metals and gut microbiota in a water scorpion insect for the first time. Water scorpions can tolerate pollution to a certain extent. This investigation aimed to reveal some bacterial subspecies with biotechnological importance included within the gut structures of a water scorpion. The amount and purity of the isolated DNA was determined fluorometrically with 16s rRNA gene and amplified for use in species determination. The detected bacterial subspecies were as follows; list of bacteria in Nepa spp. gut microbiota. Additionally, some heavy metals were detected and evaluated. The correlation of heavy metals and bacteria, which are biotic elements of gut microbiota, in terms of environmental sustainability in indicator species was discussed. Indictor hemipterans in wetlands play important roles as ecosystem engineers to improve self-purification and promote elemental cycling. Therefore, our results will affect future studies about ecology.