title: Cuttlefish capsule: An effective shield against contaminants in the wild.
abstract: Increasing anthropogenic pressures in estuaries are responsible for the rise of contaminants in several compartments of these ecosystems. Species that benefit from the nursery services provided by estuaries are exposed to such contaminants (e.g. metals and metalloids). It is therefore relevant to understand if marine invertebrates that use these areas as spawning grounds accumulate contaminants in their tissues throughout embryogenesis. This study aimed to quantify As, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Se, Pb, V and Zn concentrations in both capsule and embryos of the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) in Sado Estuary (Portugal). Moreover, embryos at their initial, intermediate and final stage of development were collected in sites subjected to different anthropogenic pressures. In general, the capsule accumulated higher element concentration throughout embryogenesis which indicates that the capsule acts as an effective barrier against contaminants uptake by the embryo. Although the capsule becomes thinner throughout embryogenesis, embryo's protection does not seem to be compromised at later development stages. Additionally, the higher concentrations of As, Cu, Se and Zn in the embryo in comparison to the capsule suggests important biological roles during the embryogenesis of this cephalopod mollusc.
authors: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo, 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal. Electronic address: inesrosa.bio@gmail.com.
authors: Inês C
authors: IC
authors: Rosa
authors: Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA), Avenida de Brasília, 1449-006 Lisbon, Portugal; CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
authors: Joana
authors: J
authors: Raimundo
authors: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo, 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal.
authors: Vanessa M
authors: VM
authors: Lopes
authors: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo, 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal.
authors: Cláudio
authors: C
authors: Brandão
authors: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo, 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Couto
authors: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo, 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal.
authors: Catarina
authors: C
authors: Santos
authors: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo, 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal.
authors: Adriana S
authors: AS
authors: Cabecinhas
authors: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo, 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal.
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Cereja
authors: Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Calado
authors: Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA), Avenida de Brasília, 1449-006 Lisbon, Portugal; CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Caetano
authors: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo, 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal.
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Rosa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049832:Decapodiformes / Q000502:physiology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008670:Metals; D011174:Portugal; D049833:Sepia; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Bioaccumulation; Cephalopods; Embryogenesis; Sepia officinalis; Trace elements