Influence of the Insecticide Diflubenzuron (Dimilin) on the Growth of Marine Diatoms and a Harpacticoid Copepod in Culture

Abstract

Diflubenzuron (Dimilin) was tested, in the concentration range 0.1–5000 μg∙L−1, for possible injurious effects on the growth and photosynthesis of three chitin-producing (Thalassiosira weissflogii, T. norden-skioldii, Cyclotella cryptica) and one nonchitinaceous (Skeletonema costatum) diatoms. For comparison, the effects of the pesticide were also examined on adult survival and juvenile development of the harpacticoid copepod Tigriopus californicus. While the development of the copepod was hindered at concentrations of the order of 1–10 μg∙L−1, the diatoms were barely affected by Dimilin even at the highest concentration tested (5 mg∙L−1). We conclude that Dimilin acts specifically on insects and crustaceans as a larvicide by interfering with chitin deposition into cuticles during juvenile development through ecdysis. The lack of effect from Dimilin on the chitin-producing diatoms has suggested that the insecticide may not inhibit chitin biosynthesis per se as was previously believed, but that it presumably deregulates one or more of the larval postsynthetic processes responsible for chitin integration into cuticles.