Abstract Investigations of the biochemical parameters in aquatic organisms are important for understanding the mechanisms of their adaptive response to the environmental factors. They are also used in a comprehensive assessment of the quality of the aquatic environment exposed primarily to the anthropogenic pollution. The goal of the work is a comparative study of the biochemical parameters of marine invertebrates reflecting the neurotoxic effects, the process of antioxidant defense, and functioning of the biotransformation system. These indicators are the generally accepted “biomarkers of stress” in aquatic organisms. The widespread White Sea species Gammarus oceanicus (Amphipoda: Malacostraca), Mytilus edulis (Mytilida: Bivalvia), and Mya arenaria (Myoida: Bivalvia) were selected as model species. In the end of August 2015–2016, these invertebrates were collected from several locations of the littoral zone of the Kandalaksha Gulf of the White Sea, including the wild littoral in the absence of apparent anthropogenic disturbance and from locations at the different pollution levels: away from an urban area (Malyi Pitkul Gulf), on a wild beach in the vicinity of the Niva River debouchment into the sea, and near the Port of Kandalaksha at a cutter-type boat pier and at the biological station Kartesh. Additionally, a comparison was made between the mollusks (M. edulis) from the littoral and sublittoral zones in the composition of the rope mussel aquaculture. The highest levels of enzyme activity (catalase and glutathione-S-transferase) and increased levels of lipid peroxidation, which are the indicators of oxidative stress in the amphipods and mollusks, were determined for the animals occurring at the Niva River mouth and in the Port of Kandalaksha exposed to local pollution with petroleum products. Interspecies differences in response to various types of exposure were identified for each indicator. Principal component analysis revealed two factors that explained 81.08% of variance. The river was the primary influencing factor owing to the reduction in water salinity and input of pollutants into the sea, increasing the levels of metals (copper, zinc, and lead) in the water. Local pollution of habitats with petroleum products (motorboats) was the second important factor, precisely which was largely associated with changes in biochemical parameters in mollusks and amphipods, suggesting a state of stress in the organisms. The results of this study confirm the utility of biochemical indicators in the assessment of the state of marine invertebrates exposed to environmental stress factors, including pollution, and the high indicative significance of the applied biomarkers.

Stress Biomarkers in Common Coastal Amphipods and Bivalves: Salinity and Pollution Gradients (the White Sea)

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发表日期：

2025年9月16日

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N. A. Berezina

摘要

Abstract

Investigations of the biochemical parameters in aquatic organisms are important for understanding the mechanisms of their adaptive response to the environmental factors. They are also used in a comprehensive assessment of the quality of the aquatic environment exposed primarily to the anthropogenic pollution. The goal of the work is a comparative study of the biochemical parameters of marine invertebrates reflecting the neurotoxic effects, the process of antioxidant defense, and functioning of the biotransformation system. These indicators are the generally accepted “biomarkers of stress” in aquatic organisms. The widespread White Sea species Gammarus oceanicus (Amphipoda: Malacostraca), Mytilus edulis (Mytilida: Bivalvia), and Mya arenaria (Myoida: Bivalvia) were selected as model species. In the end of August 2015–2016, these invertebrates were collected from several locations of the littoral zone of the Kandalaksha Gulf of the White Sea, including the wild littoral in the absence of apparent anthropogenic disturbance and from locations at the different pollution levels: away from an urban area (Malyi Pitkul Gulf), on a wild beach in the vicinity of the Niva River debouchment into the sea, and near the Port of Kandalaksha at a cutter-type boat pier and at the biological station Kartesh. Additionally, a comparison was made between the mollusks (M. edulis) from the littoral and sublittoral zones in the composition of the rope mussel aquaculture. The highest levels of enzyme activity (catalase and glutathione-S-transferase) and increased levels of lipid peroxidation, which are the indicators of oxidative stress in the amphipods and mollusks, were determined for the animals occurring at the Niva River mouth and in the Port of Kandalaksha exposed to local pollution with petroleum products. Interspecies differences in response to various types of exposure were identified for each indicator. Principal component analysis revealed two factors that explained 81.08% of variance. The river was the primary influencing factor owing to the reduction in water salinity and input of pollutants into the sea, increasing the levels of metals (copper, zinc, and lead) in the water. Local pollution of habitats with petroleum products (motorboats) was the second important factor, precisely which was largely associated with changes in biochemical parameters in mollusks and amphipods, suggesting a state of stress in the organisms. The results of this study confirm the utility of biochemical indicators in the assessment of the state of marine invertebrates exposed to environmental stress factors, including pollution, and the high indicative significance of the applied biomarkers.