Modeling fish biological responses to contaminants and natural variability in estuaries.
Understanding the factors that influence biological responses to contaminants has long been a major goal in marine environmental research. Seven estuarine sites along the Portuguese coast were sampled over a year, and different biological responses of Pomatoschistus microps and Atherina presbyter were determined: superoxide dismutase, catalase, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, glutathione S-transferase, metallothioneins, lipid peroxidation, RNA:DNA ratio and condition factor K. Generalized linear models (GLM) were developed for each biological variable per species in relation to sediment chemical characterization (metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentration) and environmental conditions (month, site, water temperature, salinity, depth and mud percentage in the sediment). GLM varied in explanatory power and in the set of predictor variables included in the models. Environmental factors were frequently selected as predictor variables. Individual metals concentration and sediment quality guidelines (integrating all metals) were the major contaminants explaining biological variability. Accordingly, models for metallothioneins and lipid peroxidation had highest explanatory power. Species-specific responses and dataset size were the basis of observed differences between GLM for the two species.
Centro de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: vffonseca@fc.ul.pt.
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Fonseca
Centro de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Vasconcelos
Centro de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
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França
CIMA, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
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Serafim
CIMA, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
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Lopes
CIMA, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
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Company
CIMA, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
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Bebianno
Centro de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Costa
Centro de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Cabral
D000818:Animals; D004777:Environment; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D063366:Estuaries; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D016014:Linear Models; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity; D008954:Models, Biological; D036441:Osmeriformes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010473:Perciformes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity; D011174:Portugal; D012621:Seasons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D029941:Fish Proteins; D008670:Metals; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Biomarkers; Estuaries; Fish; Generalized linear models; Metals; PAHs