Assessment of ecosystem health disturbance in mangrove-lined Caribbean coastal systems using the oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae as sentinel species

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 618; pp. 718 - 735
• Main Authors: Aguirre-Rubí, J., Luna-Acosta, A., Ortiz-Zarragoitia, M., Zaldibar, B., Izagirre, U., Ahrens, M.J., Villamil, L., Marigómez, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.03.2018
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Biomonitoring; Condition; Ecosystem health; Histopathology; Mangrove cupped oyster; Reproduction; Condition; Reproduction; Biomonitoring; Histopathology; Ecosystem health; Biomarkers; Mangrove cupped oyster
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.098

This investigation was aimed at contributing to develop a suitable multi-biomarker approach for pollution monitoring in mangrove-lined Caribbean coastal systems using as sentinel species, the mangrove cupped oyster, Crassostrea rhizophorae. A pilot field study was carried out in 8 localities (3 in Nicaragua; 5 in Colombia), characterized by different environmental conditions and subjected to different levels and types of pollution. Samples were collected in the rainy and dry seasons of 2012–2013. The biological effects at different levels of biological complexity (Stress-on-Stress response, reproduction, condition index, tissue-level biomarkers and histopathology) were determined as indicators of health disturbance, integrated as IBR/n index, and compared with tissue burdens of contaminants in order to achieve an integrative biomonitoring approach. Though modulated by natural variables and confounding factors, different indicators of oyster health, alone and in combination, were related to the presence of different profiles and levels of contaminants present at low-to-moderate levels. Different mixtures of persistent (As, Cd, PAHs) and emerging chemical pollutants (musk fragrances), in combination with different levels of organic and particulate matter resulting from seasonal oceanographic variability and sewage discharges, and environmental factors (salinity, temperature) elicited a different degree of disturbance in ecosystem health condition, as reflected in sentinel C. rhizophorae. As a result, IBR/n was correlated with pollution indices, even though the levels of biological indicators of health disturbance and pollutants were low-to-moderate, and seasonality and the incidence of confounding factors were remarkable. Our study supports the use of simple methodological approaches to diagnose anomalies in the health status of oysters from different localities and to identify potential causing agents and reflect disturbances in ecosystem health. Consequently, the easy methodological approach used herein is useful for the assessment of health disturbance in a variety of mangrove-lined Caribbean coastal systems using mangrove cupped oysters as sentinel species. [Display omitted] •Health status of wild oysters, determined in Caribbean mangrove conditions•A toolbox of non-sophisticated biological effects endpoints was applied.•Signs of ecosystem health disturbance, related to contaminants and sewage•Approach suitable for assessing health disturbance in mangrove-lined coastal ecosystems•Mangrove cupped oysters, proper sentinels for tropical coastal biomonitoring