Are Mussels Always the Best Bioindicators? Comparative Study on Biochemical Responses of Three Marine Invertebrate Species to Chronic Port Pollution

FERNÁNDEZ GIMENEZ, A.V.; LAITANO, M.V.

BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY

SPRINGER

Año: 2016

0007-4861

Bivalves have traditionally been consideredgood bioindicators due to their sensitivity to pollution,among other features. This characteristic is shared byseveral other non-bivalve species as well, though studies inthis respect remain scarce. This work aims to comparebiomarker sensitivity to chronic port pollution among threeintertidal invertebrate species with good bioindicatorcharacteristics. Mussels? immunological (phenoloxidaseand peroxidases) and biotransformation (glutathione-Stransferase)responses were contrasted against those oflimpets and barnacles. The three species under study evidencedactivity of all the enzymes measured, although withdifferences. Barnacle Balanus glandula was the most sensitivespecies showing pollution modulation of the threeenzymes, which suggests that mussels would not always bethe best bioindicator species among marine invertebratesdepending on the responses that are assessed.