Antioxidant responses in the polar marine sea-ice amphipod Gammarus wilkitzkii to natural and experimentally increased UV levels.
Polar marine surface waters are characterized by high levels of dissolved oxygen, seasonally intense UV irradiance and high levels of dissolved organic carbon. Therefore, the Arctic sea-ice habitat is regarded as a strongly pro-oxidant environment, even though its significant ice cover protects the ice-associated (=sympagic) fauna from direct irradiation to a large extent. In order to investigate the level of resistance to oxyradical stress, we sampled the sympagic amphipod species Gammarus wilkitzkii during both winter and summer conditions, as well as exposed specimens to simulated levels of near-natural and elevated levels of UV irradiation. Results showed that this amphipod species possessed a much stronger antioxidant capacity during summer than during winter. Also, the experimental UV exposure showed a depletion in antioxidant defences, indicating a negative effect of UV exposure on the total oxyradical scavenging capacity. Another sympagic organism, Onisimus nanseni, was sampled during summer conditions. When compared to G. wilkitzkii, the species showed even higher antioxidant scavenging capacity.
Krapp
Rupert H
RH
University of Kiel, Institute for Polar Ecology, Wischhofstr. 1-3, Building 12, 24148 Kiel, Germany. rkrapp@ipoe.uni-kiel.de
Baussant
Thierry
T
Bassinet
Thievery
T
Berge
Jørgen
J
Pampanin
Daniela M
DM
Camus
Lionel
L
D033304:Amphipoda / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000378:metabolism*; D046448:Ice Cover; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000528:radiation effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D010545:Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D010545:Peroxides; C049375:perhydroxyl radical; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D008315:Malondialdehyde