title: Effect of Copper, Irgarol and Atrazine on Epiphytes Attached to Artificial Devices for Coastal Ecotoxicology Bioassays.
abstract: Toxic effects of copper, atrazine and irgarol were evaluated on epiphytes attached to mimes (artificial devices that mimic the morphology of seagrasses) in order to check sensitivity of this biological group. Tube-dwelling diatoms were the major component of the epiphyte community. Superoxide dismutase activity was enhanced by exposure to 25 and 50 μg L-1of atrazine; the organism generates this antioxidant response to prevent cellular damage by removing reactive oxygen substances produced by oxidative stress. The measurement of antioxidant enzymatic activity in epiphytes could be a useful technique for ecotoxicology monitoring in marine coastal environments.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía (CSIC), Campus Río San Pedro s/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: Julián
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blasco
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moreno-Garrido