A multi-level approach using Gambusia affinis as a bioindicator of environmental pollution in the middle-lower basin of Suquía River

RAUTENBERG, GISELA EVELIN; AMÉ, MARÍA VALERIA; MONFERRÁN, MAGDALENA VICTORIA; BONANSEA, ROCÍO; HUED, ANDREA

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 48 p. 706 - 706

he Suquía River middle-lower basin (Córdoba, Argentina) is subjected to a strong anthropogenic impact because it receives pollutants from different sources. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the introduced fish species Gambusia affinis as a bioindicator of environmental pollution in the middle-lower basin of the Suquía River. The assessment was performed by measuring biomarkers at different levels of biological organization, at two sampling sites (before and after Córdoba city), and at dry and wet seasons. Water quality evaluation was made through a water-quality index (based on physico-chemical parameters), heavy-metals and pesticides concentrations in water. The water quality varied between sampling sites, showing the most degraded conditions downstream Córdoba city. The same pattern of variation was detected in the biomarkers studied, mainly in: gill and liver histopathological indexes, copulatory organ (gonopodium) morphology and vitellogenin expression in males and fe