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(80-84) Biomarkers vs. physiological responses in assessing effects of pesticides in isopods. A study with deltametrin. Lemos, Marco*,1, Engenheiro, Elisabete1, Sousa, José1, Soares, Amadeu2, 1 Instituto do Ambiente e Vida, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal2 Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal ABSTRACT- In recent years the use of biochemical parameters (=biomarkers) to assess effects of toxicants to soil organisms is becoming a common procedure in soil ecotoxicology. Several biomarkers were already adapted to be used with soil invertebrates, but to link biomarker responses to higher levels of biological organization (individual and population responses) is not simple and still remains a big discussion issue in ecotoxicological research. In this study we evaluate the effects of deltametrin to the woodlice Porcellio dilatatus, analysing not only several physiological parameters (feeding parameters and growth), but also several biochemical measurements (AChE and Na+/K+ ATPase activities and energy reserves). Animals were exposed for 28 days to a contaminated soil (a natural agricultural soil) in a series of concentrations of deltametrin. At the end, feeding and growth were measured and animals were sacrificed for further biochemical analysis. Physiological parameters showed a weak response to the chemical (feeding and growth were slightly inhibited at the highest sub-lethal concentrations), but a more pronounced response was observed in the biochemical parameters, especially the energy reserves. The use of these type of parameters deserve a special attention in ecotoxicological studies, and a comparison with the other type of biomarkers measured, regarding their sensitivity and ecological relevance, is discussed in this study. Key words: Biomarkers, Energy reserves, Deltametrin, Porcellio dilatatus |
