The Lusitanian toadfish as bioindicator of estuarine sediment metal burden: The influence of gender and reproductive metabolism |
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| Institution: | 1. Center of Oceanography, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal;2. School of Science and Technology, Department of Biology, University of Évora, Largo dos Colegiais 2, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal;3. Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Department of Plant Biology, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal;4. Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Department of Animal Biology, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal;1. MLR Key Laboratory of Metallogeny and Mineral Assessment, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China;2. No. 3 Geological Survey, Henan Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Xinyang 464000, China;3. Henan Provincial Non-Ferrous Metals Geological and Mineral Resources Bureau, Zhengzhou 450016, China;4. China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China;1. Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain;2. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Spain;3. Servicio de Pesca y Acuicultura, D.G. de Ganadería y Pesca, Consejería de Agricultura y Agua de la Región de Murcia, Juan XXIII, 30071 Murcia, Spain;4. Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain;1. Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Sakhyanovoi St. 6, 670047 Ulan-Ude, Russian Federation;2. Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Animal Evolutionary Ecology, University of Münster, Hüfferstr. 1, 48149 Münster, Germany;1. Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium;2. Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Duboislaan 14, B-1560 Groenendaal-Hoeilaart, Belgium |
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| Abstract: | Early diagenetic processes and anthropogenic activities are responsible for metal enrichment in estuarine sediments. The Tagus estuary (Portugal) is no exception, and as a result of past and present pressures, surface sediment contamination is still an issue in some areas. Since such metal loads may be incorporated by benthic organisms, this study analyzed the accumulation of trace metals in the Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus) in the Tagus estuary. In order to determine the role played by the seasonal reproductive cycle of the Lusitanian toadfish in the bioaccumulation process of trace metals in its tissues, the concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in the liver of male and female specimens captured during reproductive and non-reproductive periods. The results showed that metal accumulation in the liver was related simultaneously with gender and season, with females having higher levels of Cd, Cu and Zn during the reproductive period. The metabolic roles of Cu and Zn in embryonic development may explain such results, as both metals accumulated in the female liver to be transported to the gonads later on. Cd, on the other hand, does not have a metabolic role, and the higher concentrations of this metal found in spawning females could be related to the high affinity of Cd to vitellogenin, which is produced in the liver. To assess the species’ potential as an indicator of metal contamination, the concentrations of the seven elements were compared in the muscle tissue of adult, type I males (age ≥5), from two areas with distinct sediment metal loads. Non-essential metals in the muscle reflected the same differences between areas that were found in the sediment samples, evidencing H. didactylus as a potential indicator of those elements bioavailability from the sediment. The results showed that the muscle tissue of adult specimens of a relatively sedentary species such as H. didactylus is a useful indicator of long term accumulation of trace metals. On the contrary, liver concentrations of trace metals showed variation according to the reproductive status, which could lead to overestimate of the environmental status concerning trace metals bioavailability. Spawning season and liver tissue should thus be avoided in biomonitoring studies targeting this benthic fish. |
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| Keywords: | Trace elements Muscle Liver Spawning season Tagus estuary (Portugal) |
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