An ecotoxicological approach to evaluate the effects of tourism impacts in the Marine Protected Area of La Maddalena (Sardinia, Italy)

In the Marine Protected Area of La Maddalena Archipelago, environmental protection rules and safeguard measures for nautical activities have helped in reducing anthropogenic pressure; however, tourism related activities remain particularly significant in summer. With the aim of evaluating their impa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2017-09, Vol.122 (1-2), p.306-315
Main Authors: Moschino, V., Schintu, M., Marrucci, A., Marras, B., Nesto, N., Da Ros, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Aquatic Organisms
Biomarkers
Ecotoxicology
Environmental Monitoring
Italy
Marine Protected Area
Mytilus
Mytilus galloprovincialis
POCIS
Population Dynamics
Recreation
Tourism impacts
Travel
Water Pollutants, Chemical
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Summary:In the Marine Protected Area of La Maddalena Archipelago, environmental protection rules and safeguard measures for nautical activities have helped in reducing anthropogenic pressure; however, tourism related activities remain particularly significant in summer. With the aim of evaluating their impacts, the biomarker approach using transplanted Mytilus galloprovincialis as sentinel organisms coupled with POCIS deployment was applied. Mussels, translocated to four marine areas differently impacted by tourism activities, were sampled before, during and after the tourist season. Moreover, endocrine disruptors in passive samplers POCIS and the cellular toxicity of whole POCIS extracts on mussel haemocytes were evaluated to integrate ecotoxicological information. Lysosomal biomarkers, condition index and mortality rate, as well as metals in tissues suggested an alteration of the health status of mussels transplanted to the most impacted sites. The cellular toxicity of POCIS extracts was pointed out, notwithstanding the concentrations of the examined compounds were always below the detection limits. •The effects of tourism activities were investigated in La Maddalena Marine Protected Area.•An active biomonitoring using mussels coupled with POCIS deployment was carried out.•The cellular toxicity of POCIS extracts was evaluated through in vitro exposition experiments.•Biomarkers evidenced altered conditions in mussels from the most impacted sites.•The cellular toxicity of POCIS extracts was highlighted in mussel haemocytes.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.06.062