Potential influence of confounding factors (size, salinity) on biomarkers in the sentinel species Scrobicularia plana used in programmes monitoring estuarine quality

Abstract

Size is a factor necessarily but easily controlled. Because the weight may be different in clams of identical size, correction factors may be used to minimise the influence of weight changes on biomarkers. A correction factor taking into account salinity levels can also be used. The protein concentrations in the clams did not differ with salinity, a very favourable outcome since all enzyme activities are classically expressed by reference to total protein concentrations. For burrowing tests, the number of burrowed specimens at a particular time is an endpoint that is preferable to measures of burrowing speed.

Copper sulphate impact on the antioxidant defence system of the marine bivalves Cerastoderma edule and Scrobicularia plana

“…41 , evaluating the effect of salinity on the antioxidant system of the studied species, C. edule and S. plana , showed alterations at the enzymatic activity level with the salinity changes. Similar results were observed by others authors to others species, such as to Venerupis corrugata 42 , Litopenaeus vannamei 43 , and also to S. plana 44 . On the other hand, the depuration process, often performed in sterile sea water, during 24 to 72 hours 45 is also pointed out as able to induce traumatic and physiologic stress, leading to debility and death of the organisms 46 .…”

Cadmium sulfide quantum dots induce oxidative stress and behavioral impairments in the marine clam Scrobicularia plana

“…Bivalves of the same weight (2.7 AE 0.5 g wet wt) were selected to avoid any potential influence of this biological factor on the responses of biomarkers [24]. Bivalves of the same weight (2.7 AE 0.5 g wet wt) were selected to avoid any potential influence of this biological factor on the responses of biomarkers [24].…”

“…Bivalves (S. plana) were collected by hand from an intertidal mudflat (33.50 psu) in the Bay of Bourgneuf (47801 0 50.35 00 N, 1859 0 04.80 00 W), located on the West Atlantic coast of France. Bivalves of the same weight (2.7 AE 0.5 g wet wt) were selected to avoid any potential influence of this biological factor on the responses of biomarkers [24]. Clams were transported to the laboratory in a cool box.…”

Influence of mussel biological variability on pollution biomarkers

“…Previous studies carried out within our group (Albentosa et al, 2012a;Bellas et al, 2014) have revealed that physiological and biochemical biomarkers seems to be more affected by mussel biological parameters than by chemical pollution. To validate the use of biomarkers in marine pollution studies it is indispensable to understand the importance of environmental variables on the studied biological responses (Tankoua et al, 2011).…”