UK long-term monitoring dataset: assessing factors affecting biomarkers commonly used in environmental programmes

Dalessandri, Shannon, Franco, Aldina M. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6055-7378 and Assunção, Marta G. L. (2023) UK long-term monitoring dataset: assessing factors affecting biomarkers commonly used in environmental programmes. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10. ISSN 2296-7745

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Abstract

Long-term programmes like the UK Clean Seas Environmental Monitoring Programme (CSEMP) rely on biological effects techniques, including biomarkers, to assess if chemical pollutants are affecting sentinel species in the aquatic environment. In this study, we have applied mixed and fixed effect linear models to the long-term CSEMP dataset (2005-2018) to evaluate if factors such as region (location), sex, age, gonadosomatic index (GSI) and condition factor (CF), contribute to the variability observed in the levels of 3 well established biomarkers (inhibition of acetylcholinesterase in muscle-AChE, induction of hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin-O deethylase-EROD and presence of biliary 1-hydroxypyrene-1-OH pyrene) used to monitor biological effects of contaminants in dab (Limanda limanda) around UK waters. Regional differences (location) were a significant explanatory variable for the 3 biomarkers. Substantial differences were found in regional average muscle AChE activity, overall indicating the East Coast regions as likely more impacted by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (e.g. organophosphates and carbamates). We report for the first time that, while accounting for region, sex and gonadosomatic index are significant predictors of muscle Acetylcholinesterase isoform in dab (R2 =0.13-0.15), and therefore advise the future analysis of this marker should be done by sex when reporting for marine environmental purposes. Dab condition factor is also a significant predictor for both enzymatic markers (AChE and EROD) but not for 1-OH pyrene. Sex and age, and their interaction, were the strongest variables (R2 26 =0.46) influencing hepatic EROD, showing that although overall females had higher hepatic EROD, male dab hepatic EROD increased with age. Correlations between the three biomarkers might assist in discerning types of prevalent regional contamination over the studied period. Our results highlight the factors to account for when assessing if environmental contamination is contributing to the responses of these 3 biomarkers in dab, and other flatfish species, used in marine environmental monitoring programmes.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Funding information: This study was carried out in part-fulfillment of the degree of Master of Science, School of Environmental Sciences (University of East Anglia) by Shannon Dalessandri, recipient of Across the Pond Scholarship for International Students and Simon Wharmby Postgraduate Scholarship in Environmental Sciences (2019). The CSEMP programme is funded by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra), UK.
Uncontrolled Keywords: 7-ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (erod),acetylcholinesterase ache,biliary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-oh pyrene),biological effects,flatfish,monitoring programmes,water science and technology,environmental science (miscellaneous),ocean engineering,aquatic science,oceanography,global and planetary change,sdg 14 - life below water ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2312
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Biology
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 07 Mar 2023 17:30
Last Modified: 23 Mar 2024 12:30
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/91426
DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1124952

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