A multilevel response approach reveals the Asian clam Corbicula largillierti as a mirror of aquatic pollution

REYNA, P.B.; BALLESTEROS, M.L.; ALBÁ, M.L.; BERTRAND, L.; GONZÁLEZ, M.; MIGLIORANZA, K.S.B.; TATIÁN, M.; HUED, A.C.

THE SCIENCE OF TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

Elsevier

Año: 2019 vol. 692 p. 175 - 175

0048-9697

he endobenthic bivalves are widely used as a bioindicators since they inhabit the sediment-water interface and are able to accumulate a different kind of contaminants. In the present work, we evaluated wild Corbicula largillierti (Phillippi, 1844) as a bioindicator of water quality in the central region of Argentina. The responses at different levels of the biological organization were used. We measured organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) levels in water and clams tissues. The biomarkers selected were enzymatic activities (Glutathione S-Transferase, Catalase, Acetyl-, Butyryl- cholinesterase, and Carboxylesterase) morphometry of the digestive gland, condition index and morphology of valves. In order to integrate all the responses a multivariate analysis and integrated stress index were applied. Our results showed the presence of contaminants along the studied river and the ability of C. largillierti to bioaccumulate them. All the biomarkers selected