Combined biomarker and chemical analysis as a tool to assess
coastal ecosystem health in Caribbean mangroves: a pollution
biological effects monitoring pilot program
J. Aguirre-Rubí1,2*, L. Garmendia1,2, N. Etxebarría2,3, M. Ortiz-Zarragoitia1,2, A. Luna-Acosta4, M.
Soto1,2, B. Zaldibar1,2, U. Izagirre1,2, F. Espinoza5, M. J. Ahrens4, I. Marigómez1,2
1
CBET Res. Grp., Dept. Zoology & Animal Cell Biology, Univ. Basque Country (UPV/EHU).
Sarriena 48940 Leioa, Basque Country.
2 Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (Plentzia Marine Station;
PIE), Univ. Basque Country (UPV/EHU). Areatza, 48620 Plentzia, Basque Country.
3 IBEA Res. Grp. Dept Analytical Chemistry, Univ. Basque Country (UPV/EHU). Sarriena 48940
Leioa, Basque Country.
4 Dept. Biological & Environmental Sciences, Jorge Tadeo Lozano Univ., Bogotá, Colombia.
5 Dept. Microbiology, National Autonomous Univ. Nicaragua-León. E-68 León, Nicaragua.
Nowadays, some monitoring programs at national and international level have been
established in Nicaragua and Colombia. The most important ones are the Surveillance
Network Quality Environmental in Colombia (REDCAM), the Sustainable Development
Network of Nicaragua (RDS-HN) and the project "Colombia, Costa Rica and
Nicaragua", reducing pesticide runoff to the Caribbean (GEF-REPCAR, 2007-2011). In
these programs chemical analyses of marine bivalves, sediment and water have been
performed in order to assess the distribution of contaminants in the Caribbean. These
programs do not include biological effects assessment (e.g. stress-on-stress, growth,
flesh condition, gonad index, biomarkers and histopathology).
As starting point, a pollution biological effects monitoring pilot program was launched in
Nicaragua and Colombia Caribbean coastal areas in 2012, including 4 bivalve species
as sentinels (Cassostrea rizophorae, Polimesoda sp, Isognonmus radiatus and Mitella
charruana) and focused upon mangroves. Sampling was carried out in 4 study areas
with localities subjected to different levels of pollution along the Caribbean coast
(October 2012 and March 2013); 2 in Nicaragua (Laguna de Perla and Bluefields Bay)
and 2 in Colombia (Cartagena and Santa Marta). Considering seasonality as a relevant
variable, sampling was conducted both in the dry and the rainy season. In each locality,
a battery of tissue-level and organism-level biomarkers was applied together with
chemical analysis of water, sediments and bivalves. Cell type replacement (volume
density of basophilic cells; VvBAS) in digestive gland epithelium, morphological
alterations in digestive alveoli (mean luminal radius to mean epithelial thickness;
MLR/MET), general histopathology and stress-on-stress response were measured.
PAHs and metals were determined.
A main objective was identifying and solving logistic and technical problems associated
to the implementation of a biomarker-based pollution biomonitoring program in the
Caribbean, especially in mangroves. Likewise, the study is aimed at obtaining a first
overall perspective of the ecosystem health status in the studied localities. A selection
of suitable sentinel species and a better understanding of their biology as well as the
design of a biomonitoring program for Caribbean mangroves are major achievements,
as well.
Acknownledgements: This work was funded by Spanish Agency for International
Development Cooperation (CARIBIOPOL-AECID 11-CAP2-1595) and Supported by
The University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (UFI 11/37). Basque Government
through Consolidated Research Groups fellowship (IT810-B).
* Presenting author contact: aguirrerubi@hotmail.com