Chronic genetic damages in Geophagus brasiliensis exposed to anthropic impact in Estuarine Lakes at Santa Catarina Coast–Southern of Brazil

Abstract

Biological monitoring through animals exposed to pollutants using biomarkers provides a promising tool for the identification of pollutants that may cause damage to human health and/or to sustainability of ecosystems. The effects of pollutants in fish tissues are important tools to understand the impact of human activities in natural ecosystems. The aim of this work was to study the water quality of two estuarine lakes in Santa Catarina, Brazil (Camacho Lake and Santa Marta Lake). Geophagus brasiliensis is a species widely distributed in Brazil and was used in this work. Comet assays in peripheral red blood and kidney cells, micronucleus tests in peripheral red blood cells, measurements of acetylcholinesterase activity in axial muscle and histopathological analysis of liver were used as biomarkers. Three sampling campaigns were undertaken in November 2004, June 2005 and November 2005. Thirty adult animals were sampled from each of three different sites (P1--Santa Marta Lake, P2 and P3--Camacho Lake). A negative control was sampled in a non-polluted site at Costa Ecological Park, Paraná. The positive control for genotoxicity was obtained by treating animals with copper sulphate. The results showed that both studied lakes are impacted by potential genotoxic substances. Severe lesions in liver of G. brasiliensis were also observed. The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity suggests the presence of pesticides or metals in the studied sites. This work shows that the water quality of Santa Marta and Camacho Lakes have been compromised and further control source of pollutants into these ecosystems is required.

Assessing pollution in marine protected areas: the role of a multi-biomarker and multi-organ approach

“…Some DNA damages in fishes exposed to low temperatures may be explained by decreased protein synthesis, which results in less efficient DNA repair mechanisms (Benincá et al 2012;Pellacani et al 2006;Buschini et al 2003). Although the austral winter presented lower water temperatures (21°C) if compared to the rainy season (28°C), this difference could not explain the effects on C. spixii described in the current study.…”

Composition, abundance and biomass of a fish assemblage in a southern Brazilian coastal stream during polyhaline/euhaline condition

“…Notwithstanding, the species has been found in estuarine systems (e.g. Garcia et al 2001, Benincá et al 2012, but those records were not accompanied by appropriate data on salinity. Thus, the tolerance of G. brasilensis to high salinity in natural environment (19.3-31.3 ppt) and its high relative abundance under this condition is herein recorded.…”

Assessing genotoxic effects in fish from a marine protected area influenced by former mining activities and other stressors

“…Previous studies showed the role of low temperature in DNA damage. This is likely to occur because protein synthesis decreases as a result of low RNA translation rates (Benincá et al, 2012;Pellacani et al, 2006;Buschini et al, 2003). Thus, DNA repair mechanisms may be slower and less efficient, and can lead eventually to genetic damage (Pellacani et al, 2006;Buschini et al, 2003).…”