Are Mussels Always the Best Bioindicators? Comparative Study on Biochemical Responses of Three Marine Invertebrate Species to Chronic Port Pollution

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 97; no. 1; pp. 50 - 55
• Main Authors: Laitano, María V., Fernández-Gimenez, Analía V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.07.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Balanus glandula; Bioindicators; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - metabolism; Biotransformation; Bivalvia - metabolism; Comparative studies; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Pollution - adverse effects; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; Indicator species; Invertebrata; Invertebrates; Marine invertebrates; Marine pollution; Mollusks; Pollution; Shellfish; Soil Science & Conservation; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water pollution; Water Pollution Control; Marine invertebrates; Bioindicators; Port pollution; Biochemical biomarker
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-016-1839-y

Bivalves have traditionally been considered good bioindicators due to their sensitivity to pollution, among other features. This characteristic is shared by several other non-bivalve species as well, though studies in this respect remain scarce. This work aims to compare biomarker sensitivity to chronic port pollution among three intertidal invertebrate species with good bioindicator characteristics. Mussels’ immunological (phenoloxidase and peroxidases) and biotransformation (glutathione-S-transferase) responses were contrasted against those of limpets and barnacles. The three species under study evidenced activity of all the enzymes measured, although with differences. Barnacle Balanus glandula was the most sensitive species showing pollution modulation of the three enzymes, which suggests that mussels would not always be the best bioindicator species among marine invertebrates depending on the responses that are assessed.