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The impact of acute benzo(a)pyrene on antioxidant enzyme and stress-related genes in tropical stony corals (Acropora spp.)
- Source :
- Science of The Total Environment. 694:133474
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2019.
-
Abstract
- Coral reefs have extremely high ecological value in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. However, they have been subjected to the most extensive and prolonged damage in recent decades. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous hazardous pollutants and are highly resistant to degradation in marine environments. Among these compounds, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) has exerted pressure on corals due to water discharges, oil spills and coastal tourism. In the present study, the physiological response, oxidative stress and stress-related genetic expressions of two Acropora spp. (Acropora formosa and Acropora nasuta) were analysed. These two coral species were exposed to 10 and 40 μg·L−1 BaP for 24 hand 72 h, respectively. The results show that (1) BaP affects the health of the zooxanthellae in coral symbiosis after BaP exposure for 72 h due to a significant decline in chlorophyll a concentrations in Acropora spp. during this period. (2) An exposure of 10 μg·L−1 BaP for 24 h induced serious oxidative damage to Acropora spp., with a significant decline and increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in A. formosa and A. nasuta. (3) The P-gp gene is more sensitive in A. formosa, while the Hsp70 gene is more sensitive in A. nasuta. (4) A. formosa showed a lower ability to resist organic pollutants in coral reefs. Overall, further ecotoxicological studies are needed to investigate the impact of chemical pollutants on corals and to compare their different response mechanisms.
- Subjects :
- Environmental Engineering
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
Coral bleaching
Coral
Taiwan
Zoology
010501 environmental sciences
01 natural sciences
Antioxidants
Acropora nasuta
Stress, Physiological
Benzo(a)pyrene
Animals
Environmental Chemistry
Acropora
Symbiosis
Waste Management and Disposal
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Acropora formosa
Pollutant
geography
geography.geographical_feature_category
biology
Coral Reefs
fungi
Coral reef
Anthozoa
biology.organism_classification
Pollution
Zooxanthellae
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00489697
- Volume :
- 694
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Science of The Total Environment
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....3d72330fa950f11f5e089243dce3f1fe