ABSTRACT
Microplastic (MP) pollution poses a significant environmental threat. These MPs can adsorb toxic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which are highly lipophilic and carcinogenic. To assess the potential effects of virgin MP, PAH, and MP+PAH in association with osmoregulation and energetic substrate, we conducted experiments with the tetra cardinal Astyanax lacustris. The environmentally relevant concentration of MP (10 mg L-1) and 20 % of the LC50-96 h of crude oil for A. lacustris (2.28 µg L-1) were used during the 96-h exposure. Fish were exposed to virgin MP, PAH, MPC (MP loaded with PAH), PAH+MP (PAH and MP in association), and the control without (CT) and with handling (CH). After 96 h, blood was collected for osmoregulatory parameters (plasma osmolality; Na+, K+, Cl-, Mg2+; glycose and lactate); gills for osmoregulatory enzyme activities (Na+, K+ ATPase, H+ ATPase, and carbonic anhydrase); and white muscle samples were used to determine glycogen as an energetic substrate. The low molecular weight PAH was not detected in PAH-loaded MP (MPC) and PAH in combination with MP (PAH+MP). The PAH concentration of the MPC and PAH+MP was similar and low compared to other works. Virgin MP, PAH, MPC, and PAH+MP were able to cause muscle glycogen depletion. The activity of v-type H+ ATPase and plasma Na+ concentrations were lower in PAH with MP (MPC). However, the hydromineral balance (K+, Mg2+, Cl-, and osmolality) was not affected by any treatment. In this sense, we can conclude that the MPC caused osmoregulatory disturbances not seen in the MP associated with PAH (MP+PAH). However, this seems unrelated to the PAH leaking from the MPC or the PAH absorption to the virgin MP once the PAH concentrations from the MPC and PAH+MP were similar.
ABSTRACT
Water salinity is among the most important factors influencing the distribution, abundance, growth, and survival of Crassostrea gasar, an important aquaculture resource grown in estuarine environments in diverse regions of the world. The goal of the present work was to evaluate the effects of different salinities on survival and the tissues ofC. gasar under laboratory conditions. Two experiments were performed using adult oysters from five marine farms located in the bay of Guaratuba, Brazil. In Experiment 1, the daily survival rates were evaluated after the oysters were submitted to gradual acclimatization at salinities ranging from 0 to 65 gL-1 and maintained in the laboratory without feeding for up to 365 days. In Experiment 2, the oysters were exposed to salinity from 0 to 50 gL-1 for up to 30 days without feeding and possible histological alterations caused by salinity were assessed. Three tolerance ranges of C. gasar to salinity were identified: "Optimal" (between 4 and 40 gL-1), "Tolerable" (between 2.1 and 3.9 and between 41 and 50 gL-1) and "Intolerable" (less than 2 and greater than 50 gL-1). No evidence of histological alterations was observed in oysters exposed to the different salinities.
A salinidade da água está entre os fatores de maior influência na distribuição, abundância, crescimento e sobrevivência de Crassostrea gasar, um importante recurso aquícola cultivado em ambientes estuarinos em diversas regiões do mundo. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da salinidade sobre a sobrevivência e nos tecidos de C. gasar exposta a diferentes salinidades, em condições laboratoriais. Foram realizados dois experimentos com ostras adultas provenientes de cinco fazendas marinhas localizadas na baía de Guaratuba, Brasil. No experimento 1, que foi realizado com o propósito de avaliar as taxas diárias de sobrevivência, as ostras foram submetidas à aclimatação gradual a salinidades variando de 0 a 65 gL-1 e mantidas em laboratório, sem alimentação, por até 365 dias. No experimento 2, as ostras foram expostas a salinidades de 0 a 50 gL-1 por até 30 dias, sem alimentação, para avaliação de possíveis alterações histológicas provocadas pela salinidade. Foram identificadas três faixas de tolerância de C. gasar à salinidade: Ótima (entre 4 e 40 gL-1), Tolerável (entre 2,1 e 3,9 e entre 41 e 50 gL-1) e Intolerável (menor que 2 e maior que 50 gL-1). Não foram encontradas evidências de alterações histológicas em função da exposição das ostras às diferentes salinidades.
