Korean J. Environ. Biol.

32(1):49～57, 2014.

Microstructure of Spider Booklung as Bio-indicator for Monitoring Environmental Asbestos Exposure

Seoul Metropolitan Research Institute of Public Health & Environment1, Department of Biological Sciences, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, Korea2

Chang-Mo Kim1,2 and Myung-Jin Moon2,*

Abstract

Orb-web spiders can be considered as an effective bio-indicative animal to monitor the ecological air pollution of certain habitat since they have limited shifting ability during their life spans. In this study we revealed the fine structural characteristics of booklung in the orb-web spider Nephila clavata, and its bio-indicatve significance in the  monitoring environmental asbestos exposure. The high resolution scanning electron microscopy results suggest that the cuticular spikes near the atrium could be act as an effective filtering structure for dust materials. Furthermore, inner cuticular spikes which protruded across the air sacs, have the functions not only sustaining appropriate respiratory volume of each air sac but also help to enhance respiratory capacity by maximizing the gross surface area for gas exchange. Interestingly, in spite of short exposure, the asbestose fibrils were effectively captured on the surface of the atrial cuticular spikes. Furthermore, histologic damages were observed due to penetration of asbestos fibrils through air sacs and fixed on the hemolymph space. In addition, although accumulated mass of hemocytes were observed near the fibrils, there were no asbestos bodies or coagulated hemocytes were found on the surface of the fibrils, This could be mainly due to the short exposure period towards asbestos. Briefly, these results indicate the spider’s booklung could be valuable tool in the detection ecological air pollutants.

Key words : asbestos, bio-indicator, booklung, microstructure, spider, Nephila clavata

* 교신저자; Myung-Jin Moon, Tel. 041-550-3445