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This work aimed to determine the sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) activities of Crangon crangon (L.) to the water-accommodated fraction (WAF) of the fuel oil spilled by the oil tanker Prestige, in order to assess their usefulness as markers for this kind of pollution. Laboratory exposure of shrimps to WAF of weathered Prestige fuel oil showed no significant interference with AChE activity. Significant induction of GST activity was observed, potentially as a result of high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. However, these results were only obtained with the higher WAF concentrations tested. It was concluded that AChE and GST activities of C. crangon were not useful biomarkers for short-term exposure to the WAF of fuel oil spilled by the tanker Prestige and carried to the beaches of Galicia (NW Spain). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pisidium amnicum is an important indigenous species in the freshwater tidal portion of the River Minho estuary and until the introduction of the non-indigenous invasive species Corbicula fluminea was the most abundant bivalve in this ecosystem. Between January 2005 and August 2006 monthly samples were collected in three sites to study the abundance, biomass, growth and production of P. amnicum. Results indicate that P. amnicum has continuous growth throughout its life span and growth rates were higher during the early phases of development, coincident with the spring and summer months. Life span estimated was 24 months. The annual 2005 growth production of P. amnicum estimated was 2.339g AFDWm−2 year−1, and the mean annual biomass was 1.594g AFDWm−2, resulting in a ratio of 1.47year−1 and a turnover time of 248.7 days. The annual 2005 elimination production estimated was 7.541g AFDWm−2 year−1, resulting in an ratio of 4.73year−1. It is concluded that P. amnicum continues to play an important role in the food web in areas where it coexists with C. fluminea. Previous studies showed declines in the indigenous population after the introduction of C. fluminea and currently, areas of high abundance are restricted to small patches in the upper limit of the tidal influence. Consequently, P. amnicum is now under considerable pressure and this situation requires ecological and conservational attention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study was to investigate the variation of several biomarkers in wild populations of Corbicula fluminea in relation to abiotic condition changes to identify environmental factors associated with increased stress in this species potentially leading to massive mortality events. The study was carried out from July to October in the freshwater tidal areas of the estuaries of Minho and Lima Rivers (NW Iberian Peninsula). Monthly, 7 biomarkers (biotransformation, energy production, anti-oxidant defenses and lipid peroxidation damages) were determined in C. fluminea and 17 abiotic parameters were determined in water or sediments in 4 sampling sites: M1, M2 and M3 in Minho (up=> downstream); and L in Lima estuaries. The results of biomarkers were integrated using the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR), Index and also analysed in relation to environmental parameters by Redundancy Analysis (RDA). Overall, the findings of the present study indicate that July and August are particularly stressful months for the studied C. fluminea populations, especially at downstream sites; the increase of nutrients and ammonium water concentrations, water temperature and conductivity are major contributors for this increased stress; the biomarkers indicated that in July/August C. fluminea is exposed to oxidative stress inducers, environmental chemical contaminants biotransformed by esterases and glutathione S-transferase enzymes, and that organisms need additional energy to cope with the chemical and/or thermally-induced stress. The findings of the present study stress the importance of biomonitoring the health condition of C. fluminea because it may allow determining the likelihood of summer/post summer mortality syndrome in this species., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)