Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the combined effects of seasonality and anthropogenic pressure on a battery of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, DNA damage and histological alterations in the native clam Ruditapes decussatus collected from a less contaminated area (LCA), Ghar El Melh, a moderately contaminated area (MCA), the North Lake, and a highly contaminated area (HCA), the South Lake, all located in the southern Mediterranean Sea. The accumulation of cadmium, lead, copper, iron and zinc was higher in the digestive glandsof clams collected from the MCA and the HCAthan in those from the LCA, particularly during the warm season. Our results reveal that metallothionein, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation levels and antioxidant defence systems were higher, while acetylcholinesterase activity was lower, in clams from the MCAand HCAthan in those from the LCA. The results also indicate that clams from the MCA and the HCAare characterized by histological alterations and DNA damage. In conclusion, the evident changes of antioxidant defence systems and macromolecules between the studied lagoons reveal the perturbation of the physiological states of clams from polluted sites thatcope with seasonal changes and trace element accumulations.
Highlights
Marine ecosystems, lagoons, are of great ecological and economic importance becausethey support vital habitats for numerous marine organisms
Temperature and suspended matter were significantly higher in the MCA and the highly contaminated area (HCA) (p
Our results revealed a significantly higher MT level in R. decussatus collected from the HCA and the MCA than in those collected from the LCA (p
Summary
Lagoons, are of great ecological and economic importance becausethey support vital habitats for numerous marine organisms. They sustain several anthropogenic pressures (Barhoumi et al 2014). Increasing industrialization has led to a massive release of pollutants into these enclosed ecosystems (Di Salvatore et al 2013). The TE content in sediments from the Tunisian gulfhas been observed to reach a considerable level that could be released into the water by flow changes or benthic agitation, causinga sustained impact on aquatic organisms and eventually on human beings through the food chain (Ennouri et al 2016)
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