Cellular responses of oysters, Crassostrea virginica, to metal-contaminated sediments

摘要

Elevation of metal concentrations in coastal environments associated with anthropogenic enrichment pose a significant threat to estuarine organisms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between cellular responses that may be potentially valuable as indicators of chronic stress and metal-contaminated sediments. For these studies, hatchery- reared juvenile oysters were deployed in situ at 15 sites for approximately I month around Charleston Harbor, SC. The effects on lysosomal destabilization and glutathione concentrations were determined, and the relationships between the cellular responses and sediment metal concentrations were described. Both single metal and multiple metal parameters (based on total metal concentrations, aluminum normahzations, and summed sediment quality guidelines) were considered. Generally, significant correlations were observed for individual metal analyses and multiple metal parameters. Since many of the individual metal analyses covary, the responses may reflect overall contaminant loading rather than responses to individual metals. Methods for estimating overall contaminant loading based on multiple analyses provide a more realistic estimate of potential adverse effects.