title: Hydrocarbon biomarkers responses in the bivalve, Tivela mactroides, exposed to polluted sediments.
abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential use of the bivalve Tivela mactroides, as a Caribbean sentinel species. Organisms were collected from a relatively clean sandy beach, and were exposed to a gradient of petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted sediments for periods of 3, 4 and 6 days, after which their activity levels of biotransformation enzymes were measured. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, glutathione transferase and cytochrome b5 activities increased according to total hydrocarbon concentration, whereas NADH-cytochrome ferricyanide reductase activity decreased. Catalase activity was constant while superoxide dismutase activity was inhibited. The results indicated that T. mactroides may serve as a sentinel species. However, further studies are recommended on the influence of biotic and abiotic variables on basal activities of enzymes, and their responses to other pollutants.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Comunidades Marinas y Ecotoxicología, Departamento Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Apdo. 8900, Caracas, 1080-A, Venezuela. adrianasardi@gmail.com
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sardi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D014687:Venezuela; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical