title: Integrated biomarker responses of an estuarine invertebrate to high abiotic stress and decreased metal contamination.
abstract: An integrated chemical-biological effects monitoring was performed in 2010 and 2012 in two NW Iberian estuaries under different anthropogenic pressure. One is low impacted and the other is contaminated by metals. The aim was to verify the usefulness of a multibiomarker approach, using Carcinus maenas as bioindicator species, to reflect diminishing environmental contamination and improved health status under abiotic variation. Sampling sites were assessed for metal levels in sediments and C. maenas, water abiotic factors and biomarkers (neurotoxicity, energy metabolism, biotransformation, anti-oxidant defences, oxidative damage). High inter-annual and seasonal abiotic variation was observed. Metal levels in sediments and crab tissues were markedly higher in 2010 than in 2012 in the contaminated estuary. Biomarkers indicated differences between the study sites and seasons and an improvement of effects measured in C. maenas from the polluted estuary in 2012. Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) index depicted sites with higher stress levels whereas Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed associations between biomarker responses and environmental variables. The multibiomarker approach and integrated assessments proved to be useful to the early diagnosis of remediation measures in impacted sites.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: arodrigues@ciimar.up.pt.
authors.forename: Aurélie Pinto
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE, School of Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oliva-Teles
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sofia Raquel
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mesquita
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE, School of Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delerue-Matos
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003386:Brachyura / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase
keywords: Contamination history; Early-warning biomarkers; Estuaries; Extreme climate events; Integrated chemical biological effects monitoring; Metals