Browsing by Author "Correia, Alberto Teodorico"
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- Assessment of paracetamol toxic effects under varying seawater pH conditions on the marine polychaete hediste diversicolor using biochemical endpointsPublication . Daniel, David; Nunes, Bruno; Pinto, Edgar; Ferreira, Isabel M. P. L. V. O.; Correia, Alberto TeodoricoIncreasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are likely to lower ocean pH values, after its dissolution in seawater. Additionally, pharmaceuticals drugs are environmental stressors due to their intrinsic properties and worldwide occurrence. It is thus of the utmost importance to assess the combined effects of pH decreases and pharmaceutical contamination, considering that their absorption (and effects) are likely to be strongly affected by changes in oceanic pH. To attain this goal, individuals of the marine polychaete Hediste diversicolor were exposed to distinct pH levels (8.2, 7.9, and 7.6) and environmentally relevant concentrations of the acidic drug paracetamol (PAR: 0, 30, 60, and 120 µg/L). Biomarkers such as catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and cyclooxygenase (COX) activities, as well as peroxidative damage (through thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) quantification), were quantified to serve as ecotoxicological endpoints. Data showed a general increase in CAT and a decrease in GST activities (with significant fluctuations according to the tested conditions of PAR and pH). These changes are likely to be associated with alterations of the redox cycle driven by PAR exposure. In addition, pH levels seemed to condition the toxicity caused by PAR, suggesting that the toxic effects of this drug were in some cases enhanced by more acidic conditions. An inhibition of AChE was observed in animals exposed to the highest concentration of PAR, regardless of the pH value. Moreover, no lipid peroxidation was observed in most individuals, although a significant increase in TBARS levels was observed for polychaetes exposed to the lowest pH. Finally, no alterations of COX activities were recorded on polychaetes exposed to PAR, regardless of the pH level. The obtained results suggest that seawater acidification is detrimental to marine wildlife, since it may enhance toxic effects caused by environmental realistic concentrations of acidic drugs, such as PAR. This work was crucial to evidence that ocean acidification, in the context of a global change scenario of increased levels of both atmospheric and oceanic CO2, is a key factor in understanding the putative enhanced toxicity of most pharmaceutical drugs that are of an acidic nature.
- Otolith shape and elemental signatures provide insights into the connectivity of euryhaline chelon labrosus inhabiting two close estuaries with different burdens of xenoestrogens in the southern bay of biscayPublication . Nzioka, Anthony; Cancio, Ibon; Cerio, Oihane Diaz de; Pinto, Edgar; Almeida, Agostinho; Correia, Alberto TeodoricoIntersex gonads have been observed in thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus, inhabiting estuaries with high burdens of xenoestrogens in the Southeast Bay of Biscay, but knowledge of population connectivity among estuaries is lacking for this euryhaline fish species. This study investigates the population structure of C. labrosus using otolith shape and elemental signatures of 60 adults (overall length ~ 38 cm) from two estuaries 21 nautic miles apart, one with a high incidence of intersex condition (Gernika), and the other one pristine (Plentzia). Otolith shape analyses were performed using elliptical Fourier descriptors, while elemental signatures of whole sagittae were obtained by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometry. Univariate and multivariate statistics were applied to determine if otolith signatures show patterns of homogeneity between estuaries. The data indicated significant differences in the otolith shape and elemental composition between mullets of Gernika and Plentzia. Elemental differences were mainly driven by Sr, Li (both higher in Plentzia) and Ba (higher in Gernika). The 98% re-classification success rate obtained from stepwise linear discriminant function analysis suggests that Gernika and Plentzia individuals form separated population units. The limited connectivity between these two close estuaries would indicate a different life history of exposure to chemicals, which might explain the high prevalence of intersex condition in Gernika and its absence in Plenztia.
- Population structure of the brazilian carapeba eugerres brasilianus in a complex of lagoon systems from southwest atlantic ocean Inferred from otolith elemental and shape signatures †Publication . Almeida, Paulo; Costa, Marcus; Oliveira, Raiane; Pinto, Edgar; Almeida, Agostinho; Azevedo, Rui; Monteiro-Neto, Cassiano; Correia, Alberto TeodoricoThe Brazilian mojarra, Eugerres brasilianus, is an economically important species for the artisanal fisheries that exist in the estuarine environments along the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. Despite this, knowledge about its population structure is scarce, and no management strategies have been applied to ensure the sustainability of E. brasilianus fisheries in Brazil. Thus, the present study intended to understand the population structure of E. brasilianus in a complex system of lagoons in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. A total of 90 individuals were collected in the lagoons of Piratininga-Itaipu (IP), Saquarema (SQ) and Araruama (AR) between December 2019 and March 2020. For the analyses, 30 individuals per location from the same age group (2 years old), following age estimation by counting the annual growth increments, were used. The contour of the shape of each otolith was evaluated using elliptical Fourier descriptors (EFD). Multi-elemental signatures (MES) of the whole otoliths were obtained using solution-based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistics to assess the degree of separation between individuals from different lagoons. EFD data showed differences between regions. MES exhibited distinct regional patterns, mainly driven by differences in Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, Mn/Ca, Li/Ca and Cu/Ca ratios. Reclassification accuracy rates obtained from linear discriminant function analyses using both EFD and MES of otoliths were 100% (IP), 90% (SQ) and 97% (AR). Therefore, a clear distinction between the population groups was observed, probably related to the inherent characteristics of each lagoon system, their semi-restricted connectivity with the adjacent coastal zone, as well as the estuarine-opportunistic behavior of the species. Thus, the results suggest that these fisheries should be managed as different population-units.
- Use of otolith shape and elemental signatures to infer the population structure of the Thicklip Grey Mullet Chelon labrosus in the Southern Bay of BiscayPublication . Nzioka, Anthony; Cancio, Ibon; Diaz De Cerio, Oihane; Ortiz-Zarragoitia, Maren; Pinto, Edgar; Almeida, Agostinho; Correia, Alberto TeodoricoXenoestrogenic effects have been reported in thicklip grey mullet, Chelon labrosus, used as pollution sentinel organisms in estuaries in the Southeast Bay of Biscay with intersex gonads described in populations from some contaminated estuaries. Despite evidence of reproductive stress in this catadromous fish species, knowledge of mullet reproductive movements and connectivity between estuaries is lacking. This study investigates the population structure of C. labrosus using otolith shape and elemental signatures of 60 adult individuals collected from two estuaries found in the Southeast Bay of Biscay (Gernika and Plentzia). All samples were collected in June–July 2020. Otolith shape analysis was determined using elliptical Fourier descriptors, while elemental signatures (Sr:Ca, Li:Ca, Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, Co:Ca, Ni:Ca, Cu:Ca and Ba:Ca) of whole sagittae were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometry. Both natural tags were analyzed with univariate and multivariate statistics to determine whether these signatures are geographically distinct and can be used to assess the degree of separation between individuals. The data showed significant differences in the otolith shape and elemental analyses, with canonical analysis of principal coordinates plots identifying two different groups, each one belonging to each estuary of origin. Differences in whole otolith elemental signatures between locations were driven by Sr:Ca, Li:Ca, and Ba:Ca. Sr:Ca and Li:Ca ratios were higher in Plentzia than in Gernika, while Ba:Ca was higher in Gernika. The high re-classification success rate using both tools obtained from stepwise linear discriminant function analysis supports these findings and suggests that Gernika and Plentzia individuals passed enough time in separated water compartments and should be regarded as two different population units. This could suggest that the intersex condition in mullets from Gernika is due to life-long exposure to xenoestrogens after homing during early larval development in that estuary, without migrations to other estuaries.