Biological Early Warning Systems: The Experience in the Gran Sasso-Sirente Aquifer

Nicola D’Alterio,Federica Di Giacinto,Annalina Lombardi,Barbara Tomassetti,Luigi Carbone,Mario Latini,Giuseppina Mascilongo,Paolo Tuccella,Miriam Berti,Ludovica Di Renzo,Adelina Pietroleonardo,Valentina Colaiuda,Riccardo Caprioli,Gianpaolo De Iuliis,Nicola Ferri

doi:10.3390/w13111529

Abstract

Biological early warning systems (BEWS) are installed worldwide for the continuous control of water intended for multiple uses. Sentinel aquatic organisms can alert us to contaminant presence through their physiological or behavioural alterations. The present study is aimed at sharing the experience acquired with water biomonitoring of the Gran Sasso-Sirente (GS-S) aquifer. It represents the major source of the Abruzzi region surface water, also intended as drinkable and for irrigation use. Besides the biomonitoring of drinkable water of the Teramo Province made by Daphnia Toximeter and irrigation water of the L’Aquila Province by Algae Toximeter, a novel sensor named “SmartShell” has been developed to register the behaviour of the “pea clam” P. casertanum, an autochthonous small bivalve living in the Nature 2000 site “Tirino River spring”. The valve movements have been recorded directly on the field. Its behavioural rhythms have been analysed through spectral analyses, providing the basis for further investigations on their alterations as early warnings and allowing us to propose this autochthonous bivalve species as a novel sentinel organism for spring water.

Highlights

Contaminants from industrial and urban sources can be accidentally or intentionally discharged at unpredictable times into the water
The Gran Sasso-Sirente (GS-S) is situated in Central Italy and belongs to the Apennines ridge area, corresponding to part of the Gran Sasso–Laga National Park and part of the Sirente-Velino regional Park (Abruzzi region, Figure 1)
The aquifer system has an extent of about 700 km2 [40], and the total drained discharge estimated on its springs is more than 18 m3/s [41]

Summary

Introduction

Contaminants from industrial and urban sources can be accidentally or intentionally discharged at unpredictable times into the water. Common water monitoring programs are inadequate to ensure 24 h control, as they are organized by punctual samplings at preestablished periods of time [1]. Chemical analysis tools are not able to determine the concentrations of every compound existing in a water system due to time, cost and technical limitations [2]. Combined toxic effects, including synergetic and antagonistic ones, cannot be identified by chemical analysis tools. These limitations lead to the development of biological early warning systems (BEWS), which are based on the response of living sentinels (i.e., molluscs, algae, crustaceans, fish) to a contaminant or mixture of them [3]. Warnings can be sent by SMS, e-mail, etc., to activate response actions [4]

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Conclusion