Abstract
Five integrative biomarker indices are compared: Bioeffects Assessment Index (BAI), Health Status Index (HSI), integrated biological response (IBR), ecosystem health condition chart (EHCC) and Integrative Biomarker Index (IBI). They were calculated on the basis of selected biomarker data collected in the framework of the Prestige oil spill (POS) Mussel Watch monitoring (2003–2006) carried out in Galicia and the Bay of Biscay. According to the BAI, the health status of mussels was severely affected by POS and signals of recovery were evidenced in Galicia after April-04 and in Biscay Bay after April-05. The HSI (computed by an expert system) revealed high levels of environmental stress in 2003 and a recovery trend from April-04 to April-05. In July-05, the health status of mussels worsened but in October-05 and April-06 healthy condition was again recorded in almost all localities. IBR/n and IBI indicated that mussel health was severely affected in 2003 and improved from 2004 onwards. EHCC reflected a deleterious environmental condition in 2003 and a recovery trend after April-04, although a healthy ecosystem condition was not achieved in April-06 yet. Whereas BAI and HSI provide a basic indication of the ecosystem health status, star plots accompanying IBR/n and IBI provide complementary information concerning the mechanisms of biological response to environmental insult. Overall, although the integrative indices based on biomarkers show different sensitivity, resolution and informative output, all of them provide coherent information, useful to simplify the interpretation of biological effects of pollution in marine pollution monitoring. Each others’ advantages, disadvantages and applicability for ecosystem health assessment are discussed.
Highlights
The key objectives in the assessment of marine ecosystem health are to provide information necessary to ensure maintenance of biodiversity and the integrity of marine communities, to limit human influences on living resources, to protect critical habitats and to safeguard human health
Five integrative biomarker indices are compared: Bioeffects Assessment Index (BAI), Health Status Index (HSI), integrated biological response (IBR), ecosystem health condition chart (EHCC) and Integrative Biomarker Index (IBI). They were calculated on the basis of selected biomarker data collected in the framework of the Prestige oil spill (POS) Mussel Watch monitoring (2003–2006) carried out in Galicia and the Bay of Biscay
Whereas BAI and HSI provide a basic indication of the ecosystem health status, star plots accompanying IBR/n and IBI provide complementary information concerning the mechanisms of biological response to environmental insult
Summary
The key objectives in the assessment of marine ecosystem health are to provide information necessary to ensure maintenance of biodiversity and the integrity of marine communities, to limit human influences on living resources, to protect critical habitats and to safeguard human health. Marine pollution monitoring programs are increasingly including molecular, cell and tissue-level biomarkers, applied in combination, for the assessment of the biological effects of pollutants (Den Besten 1998; Cajaraville et al 2000; Viarengo et al 2000; Knap et al 2002; Marigomez et al 2006; Orbea et al 2006; Zorita et al 2007; Hylland et al 2008; Garmendia et al 2011a, b, c). During the recent last years, biomarkers have been integrated in ecosystem health indices for simplicity purposes The use of these indices provides comprehensive information about the biological effects of pollution in marine organisms and may serve as useful tools for environmental managers (Broeg and Lehtonen 2006)
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