Preliminary field study of hepatic porphyrin profiles of Astyanax fasciatus (Teleostei, Characiformes) to define anthropogenic pollution.
The implementation of eco-toxicological assessment in South America is presently limited due to significant scientific information gaps concerning native species and their potential use as biomarkers. Recently, a common southern hemisphere fish species, Astyanax fasciatus, has been pointed out as a potential bio-indicator to anthropogenic pollution. This is a small, abundant, Neotropical characid, which is widely distributed from Central America south, to the Rio de la Plata Basin of western Uruguay. Our study found a statistically significant increase of coproporphyrin, uroporphyrin and protoporphyrin concentrations in hepatic tissues of A. fasciatus collected from a stream segment with high anthropogenic disturbance (due mainly to agricultural derivatives and motor vehicle transportation activities). Although the area studied showed differences in up and downstream limno-chemical parameters, these differences were not related to the increase of hepatic porphyrin concentrations. Based on the results of our study, we conclude that A. fasciatus is a good bio-indicator of exposure to environmental contaminants, and we propose that this abundant fish species be considered as a sentinel organism for monitoring potential disturbances to freshwater ecosystems.
Carrasco-Letelier
Leonidas
L
Faculty of Sciences, University of Republic, Piso 11, Iguá 4225, Montevideo, Uruguay. lcarrasco@netexplora.cl
Eguren
Gabriela
G
de Mello
Franco Teixeira
FT
Groves
Phillip A
PA
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D003306:Coproporphyrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005399:Fishes; D005618:Fresh Water; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013020:South America; D014578:Uroporphyrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014876:Water Pollution
D015415:Biomarkers; D003306:Coproporphyrins; D011524:Protoporphyrins; D014578:Uroporphyrins