Genetic indicators of herbicide stress in the pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas under experimental conditions

• Published in: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
• Main Authors: Moraga, Dario, Tanguy, Arnaud
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2000
• Subjects: Pacific; Crassostrea gigas; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620190324; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fetc.5620190324; https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/etc.5620190324

Abstract This study examined use of the oyster Crassostrea gigas as a bioindicator of experimental pollution caused by two concentrations of five pesticides (atrazine, isoproturon, alachlore, metolachlore, and diuron) used in agricultural and urban activities. The effect of these pesticides on the genetic structure of the marine bivalve was studied as part of an environmental biomonitoring project. This research was performed on two natural estuarine populations sampled along the French Atlantic coast as part of an ongoing monitoring program to survey the ecosystem of Brittany using two approaches: identifying the genetic markers based on the alleles and genotypes associated with pollution effects, and searching for a correlation between these markers and the sensitivity or tolerance of individuals under stress conditions. Results indicate a differential survival of individuals subjected to the various pollutants examined. The sensitivity of alleles and genotypes to environmental stress can be assessed based on the significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies observed between resistant and sensitive individuals when subjected to the pesticides. This genetic study included examination of five enzyme systems ( Ak, Pgi, Cap, Pgm , and Mdh ) involved in physiologic processes. A total of six alleles and five genotypes at three loci ( Ak , Pgi , and Pgm ) were identified as being markers of resistance or sensitivity. It is hypothesized that these markers could be used as potential genetic markers in estuarine ecosystem monitoring.