Impact of anthropogenic noise on the survival and development of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) early life stages

The growth of human populations has been driving an unprecedent and widespread increase in marine traffic, posing a real threat to marine biodiversity. Even though we are now aware of the negative effects of shipping noise exposure on fish, information about the impact on their early life stages continues to lack. Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is a vocal fish that uses estuaries with high levels of anthropogenic noise pollution as both breeding areas and nurseries. Here, the effects of boat noise exposure on the development and survival of meagre larvae were studied. Embryos and larvae were exposed to either noise (boat noise playback) or control treatments (coils producing a similar electric field to the speakers) and hatching rate, survival rate, morphometric traits and stress-related biomarkers, at hatching and at 2 days-post-hatching (dph) were analyzed. Results showed no conclusive effects of the impact of boat noise playback, even though there was an increased lipid droplet consumption and a decrease in body depth at 2dph larvae under this stressor. The assessment of oxidative stress and energy metabolism-related biomarkers at hatching showed a marginal decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and no changes in DNA damage or electron transport system activity (ETS), although it cannot be disregarded that those effects could only be visible at later stages of larval development. Whether these morphological and developmental results have implications in later stages remains to be investigated. Further studies with longer exposure and wild meagre could help deepen this knowledge and provide a better understanding of how anthropogenic noise can impact meagre early stagesFundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessment of contaminants in blue sharks from the Northeast Atlantic: Profiles, accumulation dynamics, and risks for human consumers

Chemical pollution is a major threat to marine ecosystems, and top predators such as most shark species are extremely vulnerable to being exposed and accumulating contaminants such as metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This work aimed to study the degree, composition, and the sources of contamination in the blue shark (Prionace glauca) inhabiting the Northeast Atlantic, as well as the potential risk faced by human consumers. A total of 60 sharks were sampled in situ aboard fishing vessels, and the concentrations of a set of metals and POPs were analysed in various tissues and complemented with stable isotope analyses. High levels of contaminants were found in most sharks sampled. The concentrations of most metals were higher in the muscle when compared with the liver. Regarding the dangers to consumers posed by the concentrations of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb), over 75% of the sharks presented muscle concentrations of at least one contaminant above the legal limits for human consumption, and a risk assessment determined that consumption of meat of these sharks exceeding 0.07 Kg per week could potentially expose human consumers to dangerous amounts of methylmercury (MeHg). Additionally, the assessment of single contaminants may lead to an underestimation of the risk for the human health. Finally, the overall accumulation of contaminants seems to be mostly influenced by the sharks’ geographical distribution, rather than sex, size, or trophic level of their prey.This study had the support of Fundaçao ˜ para a Ciˆencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) through the project BLUESHARKER (PTDC/CTAAMB/29136/ 2017), co-financed by COMPETE2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029136), the grant to MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (UIDB/ 04292/2020 and UIDP/04292/2020) and the Associate Laboratory ARNET (LA/P/0069/2020), the grant awarded to Luís Alves (SFRH/BD/ 122082/2016), and the transitory norm contract to Filipe Ceia (DL57/ 2016/CP1370/CT90). Sara Novais is funded by national funds (OE), through FCT, in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5, and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 1

Evidence of contamination-associated damage in blue sharks (Prionace glauca) from the Northeast Atlantic

This study had the support of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) through the project BUESHARKER (PTDC/CTAAMB/29136/2017), co-financed by COMPETE2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029136), the Strategic Project granted to MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (UIDB/04292/2020 and UIDP/04292/2020), the project granted to the Associate Laboratory ARNET (LA/P/0069/2020), and the grant awarded to Luís Alves (SFRH/BD/122082/2016). Vanessa F. Fonseca was supported by FCT, via research contract 2021.00244.CEECIND. Sara Novais is funded by national funds (OE), through FCT, in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5, and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19.Top predators such as most shark species are extremely vulnerable to amassing high concentrations of contaminants, but not much is known about the effects that the contaminant body burden imparts on these animals. Species like the blue shark (Prionace glauca) are very relevant in this regard, as they have high ecological and socioeconomic value, and have the potential to act as bioindicators of pollution. This work aimed to assess if differences in contaminant body burden found in blue sharks fromthe Northeast Atlantic would translate into differences in stress responses. Biochemical responses related to detoxification and oxidative stress, and histological alterations were assessed in the liver and gills of 60 blue sharks previously found to have zone-related contamination differences. Similar zone-related differences were found in biomarker responses, with the sharks from the most contaminated zone exhibiting more pronounced responses. Additionally, strong positive correlations were found between contaminants (i.e., As, PCBs, and PBDEs) and relevant biomarkers (e.g., damaged DNA and protective histological alterations). The present results are indicative of the potential that this species and these tools have to be used to monitor pollution in different areas of the Atlantic.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impact of anthropogenic noise on the survival and development of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) early life stages

We are grateful to IPMA-EPPO for the test subjects. We also thank Joaquim Tapisso for the assistance in the bioterium and Marta Bolgan for helping with the preliminary work. This study had the support of FCT through the strategic project UIDB/04292/2020 awarded to MARE, and through project LA/P/0069/2020 granted to the Associate Laboratory ARNET, through the strategic project UIDB/00006/2020 awarded to CE3C; and through project PTDC/BIA-BMA/29662/2017. FCT also attributed individual PhD grant to M.V (SFRH/BD/115562/2016).The growth of human populations has been driving an unprecedent and widespread increase in marine traffic, posing a real threat to marine biodiversity. Even though we are now aware of the negative effects of shipping noise exposure on fish, information about the impact on their early life stages continues to lack. Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is a vocal fish that uses estuaries with high levels of anthropogenic noise pollution as both breeding areas and nurseries. Here, the effects of boat noise exposure on the development and survival of meagre larvae were studied. Embryos and larvae were exposed to either noise (boat noise playback) or control treatments (coils producing a similar electric field to the speakers) and hatching rate, survival rate, morphometric traits and stress-related biomarkers, at hatching and at 2 days-post-hatching (dph) were analyzed. Results showed no conclusive effects of the impact of boat noise playback, even though there was an increased lipid droplet consumption and a decrease in body depth at 2dph larvae under this stressor. The assessment of oxidative stress and energy metabolism-related biomarkers at hatching showed a marginal decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and no changes in DNA damage or electron transport system activity (ETS), although it cannot be disregarded that those effects could only be visible at later stages of larval development. Whether these morphological and developmental results have implications in later stages remains to be investigated. Further studies with longer exposure and wild meagre could help deepen this knowledge and provide a better understanding of how anthropogenic noise can impact meagre early stages.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evidence of contamination-associated damage in blue sharks (Prionace glauca) from the Northeast Atlantic

Top predators such as most shark species are extremely vulnerable to amassing high concentrations of contaminants, but not much is known about the effects that the contaminant body burden imparts on these animals. Species like the blue shark (Prionace glauca) are very relevant in this regard, as they have high ecological and socioeconomic value, and have the potential to act as bioindicators of pollution. This work aimed to assess if differences in contaminant body burden found in blue sharks from the Northeast Atlantic would translate into differences in stress responses. Biochemical responses related to detoxification and oxidative stress, and histological alterations were assessed in the liver and gills of 60 blue sharks previously found to have zone-related contamination differences. Similar zone-related differences were found in biomarker responses, with the sharks from the most contaminated zone exhibiting more pronounced responses. Additionally, strong positive correlations were found between contaminants (i.e., As, PCBs, and PBDEs) and relevant biomarkers (e.g., damaged DNA and protective histological alterations). The present results are indicative of the potential that this species and these tools have to be used to monitor pollution in different areas of the Atlantic.This study had the support of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) through the project BLUESHARKER (PTDC/CTAAMB/29136/2017), co-financed by COMPETE2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029136), the Strategic Project granted to MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (UIDB/04292/2020 and UIDP/04292/2020), the project granted to the Associate Laboratory ARNET (LA/P/0069/2020), and the grant awarded to Luís Alves (SFRH/BD/122082/2016). Vanessa F. Fonseca was supported by FCT, via research contract 2021.00244.CEECIND. Sara Novais is funded by national funds (OE), through FCT, in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5, and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19