title: Fukushima's biological impacts: the case of the pale grass blue butterfly.
abstract: To evaluate the effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident on the surrounding area, we studied the pale grass blue butterfly Zizeeria maha, the most common butterfly in Japan. We here review our important findings and their implications. We found forewing size reduction, growth retardation, high mortality rates, and high abnormality rates in the field and reared samples. The abnormality rates observed in September 2011 were higher than those observed in May 2011 in almost all localities, implying transgenerational accumulation of genetic damage. Some of the abnormal traits in the F1 generation were inherited by the F2 generation. In a particular cross, the F2 abnormality rate scored 57%. The forewing size reduction and high mortality and abnormality rates were reproduced in external and internal exposure experiments conducted in our laboratory using Okinawa larvae. We observed the possible real-time evolution of radiation resistance in the Fukushima butterflies, which, in retrospect, indicates that field sampling attempts at the very early stages of such accidents are required to understand the ecodynamics of polluted regions. We propose, as the postulates of pollutant-induced biological impacts, that the collection of phenotypic data from the field and their relevant reproduction in the laboratory should be the basis of experimental design to demonstrate the biological effects of environmental pollutants and to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for these effects.
authors.affiliation: From the BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan (Taira, Nohara, Hiyama, and Otaki).
authors.forename: Wataru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Taira
authors.affiliation: From the BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan (Taira, Nohara, Hiyama, and Otaki).
authors.forename: Chiyo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nohara
authors.affiliation: From the BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan (Taira, Nohara, Hiyama, and Otaki).
authors.forename: Atsuki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hiyama
authors.affiliation: From the BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan (Taira, Nohara, Hiyama, and Otaki). otaki@sci.u-ryukyu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Joji M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Otaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002080:Butterflies / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D007564:Japan; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D009154:Mutation / Q000528:radiation effects; D010641:Phenotype; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D011848:Radioactive Pollutants
keywords: Fukushima nuclear accident; Zizeeria maha; butterfly; environmental pollution; phenotypic change; radiation resistance