Radioresistance of sibling Drosophila species from Laguna Verde, Veracruz, Mexico

Purpose: To identify and quantify if the generation of electricity by nuclear power plants produces an increase in background radiation that might affect the radioresistance of organisms that live in that area. Materials and methods: Natural populations of two sibling species of Drosophila, D. melanogaster and D. simulans, living in the immediate vicinity of the Mexican Nuclear Power Plant in Laguna Verde were studied for 10 years. Collections of flies were made at two sites, one close to and one further from two reactors, during both the pre-operational and operational stages of the reactors. The effect of exposure to various doses of gamma-rays on egg-to-adult survival of the flies was analysed. Results: The data obtained indicate that in both sites, egg-to-adult survival was higher in D. melanogaster than in D. simulans. There was an increase in the egg-to-adult survival during the preoperational period of one of the reactors and the possible causes are discussed. No differences were found between the two sites. Conclusions: The analysis indicates that the reactors do not have a negative impact on the Drosophila populations studied.