Effects of sewage discharges on lipid and fatty acid composition of the freshwater Patagonian bivalve Diplodon chilensis

ROCHETTA, I.; PASQUEVICH, M.Y.; HERAS, H.; RIOS DE MOLINA, M.C.; LUQUET, C.M.

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 79 p. 211 - 219

0025-326X

Lipid and fatty acid (FA) composition and selected oxidative stress parameters of freshwater clams (Dipolodon chilensis), from a sewage-polluted (SMA) and a clean site, were compared. Trophic markers FA were analyzed in clams and sediment. Saturated FA (SAFA), and bacteria and sewage markers were abundant in SMA sediments, while diatom markers were 50% lower. Proportions of SAFA, branched FA, 20:5n-3 (EPA) and 22:6n-3 (DHA) were higher in SMA clams. Chronic exposure of D. chilensis to increasing eutrophication affected its lipid and FA composition. Increased EPA and DHA proportions could be important in stress resistance as an adaptive response, but also could be involved in a higher susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. TBARS, lipofuscins (20-fold) and GSH concentrations were higher in SMA clams. FA markers indicated terrestrial plant detritus and bacteria are important items in D. chilensis diet. Anthropogenic input in their food could be traced using specific FA as trophic markers