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2C - Biomarkers (TUP/86) Use of limpet Patella coerulea as bioindicator organism in monitoring marine coastal area: preliminary results. Davitti, David2, Corsi, Ilaria1, Bonacci, Stefano1, Chiea, Riccardo1, Chelazzi, Guido2, Focardi, Silvano1, 2 University of Florence, Florence, FI, Italy1 University of Siena, Siena, SI, Italy ABSTRACT- The central zone of the Tyrrhenian coast of Tuscany (Italy) receives relatively high loads of pollutants by the mouth of the Arno River and the city of Livorno. Patella coerulea is a gastropod widely distributed in the study areas and it is considered to be a key-species of rocky coastal ecosystems. The objects of the present preliminary study were: 1) to investigate and validate several biochemical responses in P. coerulea as useful biomarkers relative to environmental variation caused by pollution 2) to gain a preliminary knowledge on the state of contamination in the coastal zone of Tuscany. Sample campaign was carried out in Winter 2000 in environments impacted by different contaminant loads. Levels of phase-I enzymes and ChE versus ASCh activities were measured in whole body of specimens and organochlorine concentrations were determined. Results showed significantly higher ChE versus ASCh activities in samples from theoretically less polluted sites compared to those reported in mollusc from more impacted areas. Conversely, NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity didn't vary substantially in specimens from different zones. Neither EROD nor BaPMO activities were detected in whole tissue of limpets. Preliminary interpretations of the results suggest that ChE versus ASCh activity in P. coerulea could be a good biomarker for monitoring pollution of marine environments, while NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity seems to show lower sensitivity to pollutants exposure. Further studies are recommended before the above biological parameters in P. coerulea could be successfully used in marine biomonitoring programs. Key words: esterase, biomarkers, reductase, gastropod |
