Differential sensitivity of three marine invertebrates to copper assessed using multiple biomarkers

• Published in: Aquatic toxicology 2004-02, Vol.66 (3), p.267-278
• Main Authors: Brown, R.J., Galloway, T.S., Lowe, D., Browne, M.A., Dissanayake, A., Jones, M.B., Depledge, M.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase; Acetylcholinesterase - metabolism; Analysis of Variance; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Bivalvia - drug effects; Bivalvia - metabolism; Blood Proteins - metabolism; Brachyura - drug effects; Brachyura - metabolism; Carcinus maenas; Copper; Copper - pharmacokinetics; Copper - toxicity; Differential sensitivity; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Heart rate; Heart Rate - drug effects; Invertebrata; Lysosomes - drug effects; Marine; Metallothionein; Metallothionein - metabolism; Mytilus edulis; Neutral Red; Patella vulgata; Seawater - analysis; Snails - drug effects; Snails - metabolism; Spectrophotometry; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 0166-445X; 1879-1514
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2003.10.001

Understanding how biomarkers relate to each other on exposure to particular contaminants in different species is key to their widespread application in environmental management. However, few studies have systematically used multiple biomarkers in more than a single species to determine the variability of sublethal effects of a particular contaminant. In this study, three marine invertebrates, the shore crab Carcinus maenas, the common limpet Patella vulgata and the blue mussel Mytilus edulis, were exposed over 7 days in the laboratory to environmentally realistic concentrations of the priority pollutant copper. A combination of molecular, cellular and physiological biomarkers was measured in each organism to detect the toxic effects of copper. Biomarkers included lysosomal stability (neutral red retention), neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase activity), metabolic impairment (total haemolymph protein), physiological status (heart rate) and induction of protective metallothionein proteins. P. vulgata was the most sensitive to copper with significant effects measured in all biomarkers at concentrations of 6.1 μg Cu l −1. In C. maenas, cellular and neurotoxic endpoints were affected significantly only at 68.1 μg Cu l −1. Exposure to copper also induced metallothionein production in crabs. Over a 7-day exposure period, M. edulis was the most tolerant species to copper with significant effects being observed at the cellular level only at 68.1 μg Cu l −1. In all three species, cellular and neurotoxic pathways were more sensitive to disruption than physiological processes (protein and heart rate). Results illustrate how a suite of biomarkers applied to different sentinel species can provide a ‘diagnosis of stress’, whereby, effects at the molecular level can be used to interpret the level of physiological impairment of the organism.