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Pathological evidence in Plicopurpura pansa associated with the stranding of a bulk carrier ship during Hurricane "Patricia" in the Mexican Central Pacific.

Authors :
Liñán-Cabello MA
Liñán-Rico V
Ortega-Ortíz C
Verduzco-Zapata M
Source :
Environmental science and pollution research international [Environ Sci Pollut Res Int] 2020 Oct; Vol. 27 (30), pp. 38370-38380. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Aug 15.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Due to the effects of Hurricane Patricia (2015), the bulk freighter "El Llanitos" ran aground in the rocky intertidal zone of Colima, Mexico. We assessed the impact of this ship's stranding on a population of the gastropod Plicopurpura pansa. Toxic elements, hydrocarbons, shell deformities, presence of tumors, imposex, and morphological relationships were analyzed. Two years after the stranding occurred, high cyanide concentrations (0.0363 mg/l) and Ni concentrations above permissible limits (3.35 mg/l) were found in surface seawater. Hydrocarbon concentrations were high in the aft zone of the ship and decreased towards the bow area of the freighter. The P. pansa specimens collected closest to the ship structure presented a high prevalence of tumorations in the structure of the foot and morphological anomalies in the shell structure; imposex was 32% and there was evidence of effects on the growth indicator. The evidence presented here supports the existence of a significant impact from the grounding of the ship on a protected gastropod species associated with the rocky intertidal zone on the coast of Colima. The potential of P. pansa as a bioindicator species of pollution caused by toxic elements and hydrocarbons associated with stranding events in the tropical Pacific is documented.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1614-7499
Volume :
27
Issue :
30
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Environmental science and pollution research international
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
32803581
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10006-9