Distribution of Cd, Pb and Cu between dissolved fraction, inorganic particulate and phytoplankton in seawater of Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica) during austral summer 2011-12.

During the austral summer 2011-2012, the metal quotas of Cd, Pb and Cu in the phytoplankton of Terra Nova Bay (TNB, Antarctica) were measured for the first time. Evolution of all the three metal distributions between dissolved and particulate fractions during the season was also evaluated. Metal concentrations were mainly affected by the dynamic of the pack ice melting and phytoplankton activity. In mid-December when TNB area was covered by a thick pack ice layer and phytoplankton activity was very low, all the three metals were present mainly in their dissolved species. When the pack ice started to melt and the water column characteristics became ideal (i.e. moderate stratification, ice free area), the phytoplankton bloom occurred. Cd showed a nutrient-type behaviour with dissolved and particulate fractions mainly influenced by phytoplankton activity. Cd quota showed a mean value of 0.12 ± 0.07 nmol L-1 (30-100% of the total particulate). Also Cu showed a nutrient-type behaviour, with its quota in phytoplankton varying between 0.08 and 2.1 nmol L-1 (20-100% of the total particulate). Pb features the typical distribution of a scavenged element with very low algal content (0.03 ± 0.02 nmol L-1, representing 20-50% of the total particulate). The vertical distribution of this element was influenced by several factors (e.g. pack ice melting, atmospheric inputs), the phytoplankton activity affecting Pb behaviour only partially. Metal:C ratios provide valuable information on the biological requirements for Cd, Pb and Cu, leading us to better understand their biogeochemical cycles.

Effects of harmful dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata exposure on immunological, histological and oxidative responses of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis.

In the last decade massive blooms of the Ostreopsis cf. ovata have occurred in the Mediterranean basin, posing great concern to both environmental and human health. Biotoxicological and chemical studies demonstrated that O. cf. ovata produces palytoxin and ovatoxins; besides direct respiratory effects on humans due to inhalation of marine toxic aerosols, O. cf. ovata blooms can cause adverse effects on benthic invertebrates. The main aim of this study was to highlight the role of immunological, cellular and oxidative mechanisms in modulating the toxicity induced by O. cf. ovata in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis. Organisms were exposed in laboratory condition to O. cf. ovata and analysed after 7 and 14 days of exposure. Obtained results demonstrated a clear involvement of the immune system with a significant decrement of granulocytes respect to the hyalinocytes type cells, a diminished phagocytosis activity and a reduced lysosomal membrane stability in haemocytes, after both 7 and 14 days of exposure. Histological analyses showed a decrease of the digestive gland wall thickness, dilatation of the tubules, haemocytes infiltration into the digestive gland and a decrement of neutral lipid levels in exposed mussels; similar results suggest a possible inhibition of the feeding activity, with a consequent induction of authophagic phenomena and utilization of stored reserve products such as neutral lipids. Antioxidant parameters revealed a limited role of O. cf. ovata to induce oxidative stress in mussels exposed under laboratory conditions excepting for a certain increase of catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidases activities, and a significantly higher capability to neutralize peroxyl radicals in mussels exposed for 14 days. Although the obtained results suggest a non-specific response of mussels to the O. cf. ovata exposure, observed effects on the general health status of exposed mussels should be adequately considered when assessing the ecological relevance of these algal blooms.

Biological effects of palytoxin-like compounds from Ostreopsis cf. ovata: a multibiomarkers approach with mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Massive blooms of the harmful benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata are of growing environmental concern in the Mediterranean, having recently caused adverse effects on benthic invertebrates and also some intoxication episodes to humans. The toxicological potential of produced palytoxin-like compounds was investigated in the present study on a typical marine sentinel species, the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Organisms were sampled during various phases of a O. cf. ovata bloom, in two differently impacted sites. The presence of the algal toxins was indirectly assessed in mussels tissues (mouse test and hemolysis neutralization assay), while biological and toxicological effects were evaluated through the measurement of osmoregulatory and neurotoxic alterations (Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase activities), oxidative stress responses (antioxidant defences and total oxyradical scavenging capacity), lipid peroxidation processes (level of malondialdehyde), peroxisomal proliferation, organelle dysfunctions (lysosomal membrane stability, accumulation of lipofuscin and neutral lipids), immunological impairment (granulocytes percentage). Obtained results demonstrated a significant accumulation of algal toxins in mussels exposed to O. cf. ovata. These organisms exhibited a marked inhibition of the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity and alterations of immunological, lysosomal and neurotoxic responses. Markers of oxidative stress showed more limited variations suggesting that toxicity of the O. cf. ovata toxins is not primarily mediated by an over production of reactive oxygen species. This study provided preliminary results on the usefulness of a multi-biomarker approach to assess biological alterations and toxicological events associated to blooms of O. cf. ovata in marine organisms.

Variations of antioxidant efficiency and presence of endosymbiotic diatoms in the Antarctic porifera Haliclona dancoi.

The role of endosymbiotic diatoms as pro-oxidant stressors in porifera has been investigated in the Antarctic sponge Haliclona dancoi in which the presence of diatoms is influenced by marked seasonal variations during the austral summer. Both chlorophaeopigments and frustules were absent in sponge tissues sampled in early November at the beginning of the summer and increased from the mid of December with slightly shifted temporal trends. The efficiency of antioxidant defenses in the sponge showed a marked response to symbionts with clearly enhanced values corresponding to the peak of diatoms.