Short-term variability of multiple biomarker response in fish from estuaries: Influence of environmental dynamics

• Published in: Marine environmental research Vol. 72; no. 4; pp. 172 - 178
• Main Authors: Fonseca, V.F., França, S., Vasconcelos, R.P., Serafim, A., Company, R., Lopes, B., Bebianno, M.J., Cabral, H.N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants; Applied ecology; Atlantic Ocean; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Biotransformation; Contaminants; Correlation; Dicentrarchus labrax; Dynamics; Ecosystem; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; enzyme activity; Enzymes; Estuaries; Fish; Fishes - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glutathione transferase; Marine; Pomatoschistus; Pomatoschistus microps; Portugal; Rivers - chemistry; salinity; Sea water ecosystems; Short-term temporal variability; Solea senegalensis; superoxide dismutase; Synecology; Techniques; temperature; temporal variation; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Portugal; Atlantic Ocean; ANE, Portugal, Tejo Estuary; Biomarkers; Pomatoschistus microps; Estuaries; Short-term temporal variability; Dicentrarchus labrax; Solea senegalensis; Short term; Biological marker; Environmental factor; Marine environment; Vertebrata; Dynamics; Pisces
• ISSN: 0141-1136; 1879-0291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2011.08.001

Short-term variability in biomarker responses and the effects of temperature and salinity variation were explored in three fish species ( Dicentrarchus labrax, Solea senegalensis and Pomatoschistus microps) occurring in the Tejo estuary. Short-term variability in biomarkers was observed in all species although no pattern was discerned over time (days to weeks). Antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)) showed low temporal variability, indicating some constancy or baseline level in antioxidant responses. Only CAT activity in S. senegalensis was correlated with temperature, suggesting that exposure to contaminants triggered antioxidant acclimation. Higher short-term variability was observed in xenobiotic biotransformation enzymes activity (phase I ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and phase II glutathione S-transferase (GST)). Yet a significant correlation between EROD and GST in D. labrax and S. senegalensis suggests a concomitant response to contaminants. Moreover the lack of correlation between xenobiotic biotransformation enzymes and abiotic variables on concordant time scales, suggest a high specificity of these biomarkers to chemical exposure, rather than high variability due to environmental dynamics. ► Short-term variability in biomarker responses was analyzed in fish from estuaries. ► Antioxidant enzymes activity had lower variability than biotransformation enzymes. ► Biotransformation enzymes activity varied concordantly for two species. ► In general biomarkers were not correlated with temperature and salinity variation. ► Biomarkers short-term variability not associated with estuarine abiotic dynamics.