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Publication
Metal contamination levels and biochemical stress responses in the catshark Scyliorhinus canicula off the Portuguese coast
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Marine contamination is an ever-growing problem, with contaminants such as metals constantly being introduced in the ecosystems.
To understand the effects these contaminants exert in marine organisms, there is a need to connect the measured contamination
levels with biological endpoints that can give an indication of stress or susceptibility. Sharks tend to bioaccumulate and biomagnify
different contaminants throughout their long lives, mainly by feeding on smaller animals containing different levels of such
pollutants. Being very abundant and heavily fished, these animals have the potential to be used in marine biomonitoring studies.
Moreover, the fact that they are used for human consumption ads further relevance to the study of their contamination levels.
The present study aimed to assess the levels of metal contamination in the catshark Scyliorhinus canicula while also addressing stress
effects using biochemical biomarkers to understand possible consequences of such contamination. The sharks were sampled right
after being caught off the coast of Portugal, aboard a commercial trawling boat. Metals were quantified in different tissues and the
levels of biochemical parameters related with detoxification, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism were measured for each
individual. Some of the metals were preferentially accumulated in liver, when compared to muscle. Significant correlations were
observed between physiological parameters and contaminant accumulation levels and some suitable biomarker candidates were
identified. This study further highlights the effectiveness of combining biochemical parameters and pollutant body burden
determinations to assess effects of contamination and demonstrates the great potential of sharks to be used in biomonitoring studies
of the marine environment.
Description
Keywords
Biomarkers Biomonitoring Marine pollutants Metals Sharks
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Marques AF, Alves LM, Lemos MF and Novais SC (2019). Metal contamination levels and biochemical stress responses in the catshark Scyliorhinus canicula of the Portuguese coast. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: IMMR'18 | International Meeting on Marine Research 2018. doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2018.06.00006