Use of South American species as bioindicators: The Ctalamochita River (Argentina) as a case of study

MARINO DAMIAN; MONFERRÁN MAGDALENA ; AMÉ MARÍA VALERIA; BERTRAND, LIDWINA; VALDÉS MARÍA EUGENIA

Estocolmo

Congreso; 6th YOUNG ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS MEETING; 2017

SETAC EUROPE

Aquatic organisms may be exposed to different water contaminants including pesticides, metals andpharmaceutical compounds from human activities. In South American countries, the informationavailable about the use of native species as bioindicators of water contamination is poor. Our aim wasto evaluate the potentiality of 2 South American native species, Palaemonetes argentinus (shrimp)and Potamogeton pusillus (macrophyte) to be used as bioindicators. Seven sites along CtalamochitaRiver (Argentine) were selected according to land use in different areas of the watershed: Pre andPost Santa Rosa de Ctalamochita city (S1 and S2), with low density of urban use (UU); BalnearioAlmafuerte (S3), with agricultural use (AU) and UU; Post Rio Tercero city (S4), with UU, AU andindustrial use (IU); Pre Villa María city AU and IU (S5); Post Villa María city (S6) and Pre Bell Villecity (S7), both of them characterized by AU, UU and IU of land. Water and sediments samples weretaken for determination of metals (in water, sediment), pesticides residues (in water) and pharmaceuticalcompounds (PhC, in water) as well as physical chemical parameters. After 96 h of exposurein cages, individuals were frozen with liquid nitrogen and maintained at - 80°C until determinationof exposure, response and damage biomarkers (Bm). A spatial and temporal variation in water pollutantswas observed along the river. The metal contamination increased from S1 to S7, while PhCwere clearly related to UU and were accompanied by low values of a calculated water quality index(WQI). Also, pesticides were found in sites surrounded by intense farming activities. Water showedconcentrations of Pb, Al, As, Ag, Hg, cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos and DDT higher than recommendedfor aquatic biota protection. Several sites presented a very high ecological risk especially due toHg in sediments. An integrated biomarker response (IBR) was calculated with Bm measured in bothorganisms. Shrimp showed higher IBR values in S4 while the macrophyte presented the higher IBRvalues in S6 and S5. A principal component analysis showed an association between IBR value ofshrimp and total concentration of pesticides and metals in water and the IBR values of macrophytewith PhC and metals in water as well as WQI. Finally, a generalized procruster analysis indicated an86% of consensus between biotic and abiotic matrix. Our results would indicate the usefulness ofboth species as bioindicators of water contamination.