Effect of mussel reproductive status on biomarker responses to PAHs: Implications for large-scale monitoring programs

Biomarkers are useful tolos to assess biological effects of pollutants and have been extensively used in Monitoring programs To determine Ecosystem health. In These programs, a wide range of environmental conditions are covered and sometimes, obtained data are difficult to interpret because of natural Variables are affecting biomarker responses. Among these variables, mussel ́ ıs reproductive status has been considered one of the most changing variablesbetween sites in a monitoring survey. Thus, the main aim of this work was to identify the effect that mussel reproductive status has on biomarker responses. For that purpose, mussels sampled at two periods in the reproductive cycle (reproductive and resting stages)were conditioned to the same laboratory conditions and exposed to fluoranthene (FLU) for three weeks. Studied biomarkers covering a Wide range of organism responses were included: bioaccumulation, physi- ological rates (clearance rate −CR-,absorption efficiency− AE-,respiration rate − RR- and their integration in the scope for growth − SFG-), antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide-dismutase − SOD-, catalase − CAT-, glutathione reductase − GR-, glutathione peroxidase − GPx-, glutathione-S-tranferase − GST-) and biochemical damage responses (lipid membrane peroxidation − LPO-). The results obtained evidenced that the levels of the biomarkers studied (RR, SOD, CAT and GPx) were higher at reproductive tan at resting stage. On the other hand, theeffect of toxicant was observed in SFG, CAT and GPx but this effect was only detected during the resting period. Moreover, there was a deterioration of mussel gonadal tissue with FLU exposure during reproductive stage. FLU accumulation in mussel tissues was also dependent of the reproductive status with higher internal concentrations during resting tan reproductive period. In conclusion, there was a strong effect of reproductive status on studied biomarkers which seems to mask the effect of FLU at reproductive stage. Te present study evidences the need to include the measure- ment of mussel biological status in marine pollution monitoring programs for a correct interpretation of biomarker data.

This study has been funded by BIOCOM project (CTM2012-30737, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness). Carmen González-Fernández was recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography Program of Research Training 2012–2016.

Peer reviewed