title: Seasonal variability of different biomarkers in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) farmed at different sites of the Gulf of La Spezia, Ligurian sea, Italy.
abstract: Mussels (Mytilus spp.) are worldwide utilized in marine biomonitoring by a multi-biomarker approach. However, for a correct interpretation of different biomarker responses, information is needed on their natural seasonal variability due to environmental/physiological factors. In this work, the seasonal variations of different biomarkers were investigated in M. galloprovincialis from 4 different sites from the gulf of La Spezia (Ligurian sea, Italy), an intensive rearing area in the north-western Mediterranean near La Spezia harbor, an important commercial and touristic port. Lysosomal membrane stability-LMS, stress on stress-SoS, phagocytosis, tissue metallothionein-MT content, oxidative stress related enzyme activities (GST, catalase), and nitric oxide (NO) production were evaluated. The results underline the importance of LMS and SoS as core descriptors of the mussel health status in relation to seasonal variations in temperature and reproduction. These data represent the baseline information for ongoing biomonitoring studies related to dredging activities in this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Balbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montagna
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Camisassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, Italy. Electronic address: Laura.Canesi@unige.it.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Canesi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007558:Italy; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D049878:Mytilus; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Aquaculture; Biomarkers; Health status; Monitoring; Mytilus; Seasonal