Investigation of the mud crab (Scylla serrata) as a potential bio-monitoring species for tropical coastal marine environments of Australia.
Mud crabs, Scylla serrata, were sampled from four estuaries (the Normanby, Herbert, Burdekin and Fitzroy Rivers) along the coast of northern Queensland, Australia, representing a pollution gradient from low to high contamination based upon previous chemical monitoring. Four biomarkers; glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity, cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition and the urinary metabolite concentrations of naphthalene (NPH) and benzo-a-pyrene (BaP) were evaluated in S. serrata hepatopancreas, haemolymph and urine. Site-specific evidence of elevated GST activity and BaP metabolite concentrations and significant ChE inhibition was detected. Biomarker responses from this field study provide evidence of contaminant exposure of S. serrata from river estuaries along the coast of northern Queensland and indicate that further investigation is warranted. Based on the current results, and with further work on characterising the dose-response and seasonal variation in this species, mud crabs have great potential as indicator species for water quality and ecosystem monitoring programs across tropical coastal regions of Australia.
van Oosterom
Jake
J
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, Australia.
Codi King
Susan
S
Negri
Andrew
A
Humphrey
Craig
C
Mondon
Julie
J
D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001580:Benzopyrenes / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003386:Brachyura / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000737:chemistry; D043143:Hepatopancreas / Q000737:chemistry; D008386:Marine Biology / Q000379:methods; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity
D001580:Benzopyrenes; D015415:Biomarkers; D009281:Naphthalenes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C031721:naphthalene; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D002802:Cholinesterases