ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Gut Microbiota and Accumulation of Heavy
Metals: A New Study of Water Scorpions
(Hemiptera: Nepidae)
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Hınıs Vocational College, Ataturk University, 25040 Erzurum, Turkey
Submission date: 2021-11-17
Final revision date: 2022-03-04
Acceptance date: 2022-03-21
Online publication date: 2022-05-30
Publication date: 2022-09-01
Corresponding author
Mehmet Bektaş
Hınıs Vocational Collage, Ataturk University, HINIS, & Department of Nanoscience and Nanoenginee, 250040, ERZURUM, Turkey
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(5):4019-4028
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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.