engleski

Application of invasive Prussian carp in metal exposure assessment of the Ilova River

Metals present one of the major threats for aquatic systems due to their persistence, toxicity and potential to bioaccumulate. Their effects might be seen in organisms exposed to even low concentrations and commonly used bioindicators are native fish species. In this study we assessed biological responses to existing anthropogenic impact in the Ilova River, using the Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio), a common invasive alien fish. Selected target organ was the intestine, as a site of dietary metal uptake. A multi-biomarker approach, involving biomarkers of metal exposure (metallothioneins, MT) and of oxidative stress (total glutathione, GSH, and malondialdehyde, MDA), with the addition of metal measurement in cytosols of intestine, was applied in autumn and spring at two sampling sites, reference and contaminated site. The measurement of metals was performed by HR ICP-MS and measurement of biomarkers by spectrophotometry. Physical and chemical parameters and metal concentrations mostly pointed to more disturbed environmental conditions at the contaminated site, with significantly higher intestinal concentrations of Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe and Rb in both seasons. Regarding biomarkers, significantly higher MDA concentrations were found in fish from the contaminated site, pointing to oxidative stress. At the same site higher MT concentrations indicated fish exposure to metals, although not significantly, while GSH did not show a clear trend. The presented study provides initial data on influence of pollution on biota in the Ilova River by using invasive alien fish in environmental quality assessment, which indicated potential risk for the protected area of nearby Nature Park “Lonjsko Polje”.

invasive fish ; oxidative stress ; metal contamination ; bioindicator ; biomarkers

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