TY - JOUR

T1 - Application of Calcified Structures in Fish as Indicators of Metal Exposure in Freshwater Ecosystems

AU - Filipović Marijić, Vlatka

AU - Mijošek, Tatjana

AU - Dragun, Zrinka

AU - Retzmann, Anika

AU - Zitek, Andreas

AU - Prohaska, Thomas

AU - Bačić, Niko

AU - Redžović, Zuzana

AU - Grgić, Ivana

AU - Krasnići, Nesrete

AU - Valić, Damir

AU - Kapetanović, Damir

AU - Žunić, Jakov

AU - Ivanković, Dušica

AU - Vardić Smrzlić, Irena

AU - Erk, Marijana

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2022/2

Y1 - 2022/2

N2 - Although there are common and well-established bioindicator organisms and tissues, there is still a need for reliable and sensitive bioindicators in aquatic environments. In the present pilot study, calcified structures in fish were applied as indicators of metal exposure in combination with commonly used fish soft tissues and intestinal parasites, therefore comprising short-and long-term indicators. Patterns of metal accumulation and distribution in soft (muscle, liver) and hard (scales, otoliths) tissues of brown trout (Salmo trutta Linnaeus, 1758) and their intestinal parasites, acanthocephalans (Dentitruncus truttae Sinzar, 1955), from the Krka River influenced by industrial and municipal wastewaters were estimated and compared. Most elements had higher levels in acanthocephalans, scales and liver than muscle and otoliths, possibly reflecting differences in metal uptake routes, tissue function and metabolic activity. Despite the recorded differences in metal contents, all applied bioindicators reflected environmental conditions in a similar way, indicating higher levels of most elements in fish from the contaminated rather than from the reference site. Acanthocephalans were confirmed as sensitive bioindicators due to effective metal accumulation capacity, while the combination of soft and hard tissues provided extended temporal information on metal exposure. Wastewater impact was evidenced as moderate metal pollution by all applied indicators and pointed to present but also long-term disturbances in the Krka River and the importance of continuous monitoring and protective actions.

AB - Although there are common and well-established bioindicator organisms and tissues, there is still a need for reliable and sensitive bioindicators in aquatic environments. In the present pilot study, calcified structures in fish were applied as indicators of metal exposure in combination with commonly used fish soft tissues and intestinal parasites, therefore comprising short-and long-term indicators. Patterns of metal accumulation and distribution in soft (muscle, liver) and hard (scales, otoliths) tissues of brown trout (Salmo trutta Linnaeus, 1758) and their intestinal parasites, acanthocephalans (Dentitruncus truttae Sinzar, 1955), from the Krka River influenced by industrial and municipal wastewaters were estimated and compared. Most elements had higher levels in acanthocephalans, scales and liver than muscle and otoliths, possibly reflecting differences in metal uptake routes, tissue function and metabolic activity. Despite the recorded differences in metal contents, all applied bioindicators reflected environmental conditions in a similar way, indicating higher levels of most elements in fish from the contaminated rather than from the reference site. Acanthocephalans were confirmed as sensitive bioindicators due to effective metal accumulation capacity, while the combination of soft and hard tissues provided extended temporal information on metal exposure. Wastewater impact was evidenced as moderate metal pollution by all applied indicators and pointed to present but also long-term disturbances in the Krka River and the importance of continuous monitoring and protective actions.

KW - Acanthocephalans

KW - Krka River

KW - Liver

KW - Metal contamination

KW - Muscle

KW - Otoliths

KW - Salmo trutta

KW - Scales

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123776903&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/environments9020014

DO - 10.3390/environments9020014

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85123776903

VL - 9.2022

JO - Environments

JF - Environments

SN - 2076-3298

IS - 2

M1 - 14

ER -