Risk analysis based on coastal biomonitoring: sinergic effect of global change on stress generated by xenobiotics in Antarctic key species of trophic webs

DEMICHELIS, S.; DI FONZO, C.; DOPCHIZ, L.; ZAPPALA C.; ROSA, G. A.; GENOVESE, G.; LO NOSTRO, F. L.; LAVARIAS, S. ; GUIRALDES, M.; ANSALDO, M.

Congreso; Society for Risk Analysis. Annual Meeting.; 2011

In spite of the Antarctic continent was considered for decades a pristine area, pollutants from a wide kind of sources were detected:1) chemical compounds from Antarctic activities at scientific stations and 2) xenobiotics which are globally distilled and distributed by air masses as a consequence of industrial and agricultural activities around the world. PAHs, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyl and organo-metals are the best known PTS found in the Antarctica. The presence of these contaminants threatens the stability of the Antarctic marine resources, since many PTS are bio accumulated in the tissues of diverse organisms. The determination of the levels and of the potential toxicity of these compounds, in key species of the Antarctic ecosystem, is very important in order to understand and to elucidate the biological impact in the organisms. The Antarctic trophic web is relatively simple: zooplankton eats phytoplankton, and top animals as fish, birds, seals and whales. It has been suggested, that a decrement in the reserves of fish and krill, would cause a devastating impact on the marine ecosystem. The general target of this project is to determine and to characterize the Antarctic organisms that can be the most sensitive to the perturbations of the environment, and the main biological responses effective to detect them. As result we will have identified sentinel organisms and reliable biomarkers. There must be taken into account the influence of factors related to sex, reproductive phase, weather and seasonality. Therefore, the present project contemplates the development of experimental works with coastal zones and open sea organisms, which will be essential to increase the knowledge of the marine Antarctic ecosystem interactions. By this way it will be possible to determine the most efficient and preventive mechanisms, necessary to preserve the Antarctica biodiversity.