Conclusions: Biomarkers in Environmental Risk Assessment - Ecological Biomarkers: Indicators of Ecotoxicological Effects - page 416

TABLE 16.1
Responsiveness of Different Classes of Biomarkers Determined in the Bivalve Scrobicularia plana
(Fossi Tankoua et al. 2011) and the Annelid Nereis diversicolor (Kalman et al. 2010) to Estuarine
Contamination and to Confounding Factors

Scrobicularia plana Nereis diversicolor

Contamination Size Class Salinity Contamination Size Class Salinity

Biochemical Markers
MT

Increase
(46-68%)

NS 23% > at

lower S‰

Irrelevant a ND ND

LDH Unclear NS 133% > at

higher S‰

Increased NS > at higher

S‰

GST Increase

(25-94%)

56% > in
small
specimens

76% > at
higher
S‰

Increased NS NS

AChE Decrease

(38-53%)

40% > in big
specimens

53% > at
lower S‰

Decreased NS NS

CMCase b Unclear NS NS Decreased NS > at higher

S‰

CMCase
Crystalline style

Unclear NS 100% > at

higher S‰

Amylase b Unclear NS NS Decreased NS NS

Amylase
Crystalline style

Unclear NS 133% > at

higher S‰

Physiological Markers
Condition
index

NS > in small

specimens

NS ND ND ND

Gonadosomatic
index

NS NS NS ND ND ND

Water content NS ND 2% > at

lower S‰

ND NS NS

Glycogen
Gonad

77% decrease 192% > in

small
specimens

NS

Glycogen b NS 550% > in

small
specimens

NS Decreased > in larger

specimens

NS

Lipids NS NS NS Decreased > in larger

specimens

NS

Proteins NS NS NS Decreased Unclear NS or > at

higher S‰

Behavioral Markers
Burrowing
speed

Decreased > in small

specimens

> at
higher
S‰

Decreased NS NS

Egestion rate ND ND ND Decreased > in larger

specimens

> at higher
S‰

Post-feeding
rate

ND ND ND Decreased NS Moderate

effect

Note: ND, not documented; NS, no significant difference.
a Poirier et al. (2006).
b In the digestive gland of S. plana ; in the whole tissues of N. diversicolor .