Organophosphorous biocides reduce tenacity and cellular viability but not esterase activities in a non-target prosobranch (limpet).
Detecting impacts of organophosphorus biocides (OP) is facilitated by analysing "biomarkers" - biological responses to environmental insults. Understanding is hampered by studying biomarkers in isolation at different levels of biological response and limited work on ecologically-important species. We tested the relevance of esterases as biomarkers of OP-exposure in limpets (Patella vulgata), abundant prosobranchs that structure the assemblages on rocky shores through their grazing. We characterized esterases in haemolymph and tissue, and quantified their dose-dependent inhibition by chlorfenvinphos (0.1-3.0 mM) in vitro. To determine whether esterases are useful biomarkers we exposed limpets to chlorfenvinphos (0-10 μg L(-1)). Despite reduced tenacity (ability to stick to a surface) and haemocyte-viability, esterases remained unaffected. Tenacity was reduced by >50% at 5 μg L(-1) and by 95% at 10 μg L(-1), whilst haemocyte-viability was more sensitive with >40% reductions at concentrations of 0.5 μg L(-1) and above. We discuss results in relation to linking sub-lethal and ecological impacts at contaminated sites.
School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Electronic address: browne@nceas.ucsb.edu.
Mark Anthony
MA
Browne
School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK.
Awantha
A
Dissanayake
College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
Tamara S
TS
Galloway
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002709:Chlorfenvinphos / Q000633:toxicity*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004950:Esterases / Q000378:metabolism*; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000201:enzymology
D015415:Biomarkers; D004202:Disinfectants; D004950:Esterases; D002709:Chlorfenvinphos
Chlorfenvinphos; Foot-size; Monitoring; Neuromuscular; Strength