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Metallothionein Induction in the Sandhopper Talitrus saltator (Montagu) (Crustacea, Amphipoda)

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Abstract

We investigated metallothionein (MT) induction in the talitrid amphipod Talitrus saltator, a well-established biomonitor of trace metal contamination in the supralittoral environment, in response to laboratory exposure to Hg, Cd, or Cu for 3, 6, 24, and 48 h. Analyses were also carried out on animals collected in the wild from six localities along the Tuscan coast with different degrees of trace metal contamination. Animals exposed to Hg in the laboratory showed a strong dose-dependent increase of MT levels after 3 and 6 h; in the following hours (24 and 48 h), the MT concentrations reached control levels, possibly due to a general toxic effect of Hg. For the other metals, MT induction was observed in animals exposed to 10 ppm of Cd and 5 and 10 ppm of Cu. Therefore, despite the positive correlation between MT concentrations and trace metals in sandhoppers collected in the wild, the fast MT response observed in the laboratory suggests an inappropriate use of MT as biomarkers to assess trace metal pollution in coastal areas.

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Acknowledgements

The research was financially supported by the Fondazione Monte dei Paschi (Siena) (grants 33,798 assigned to A. Ugolini), by MOMAR (Sistema integrato per il monitoraggio e il controllo dell’ambiente marino, IT-FR Marittimo. Project co-funded by European Regional Development Fund, ERDF) and by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmi di Livorno (Livorno) (2010 Settore Arte–Educazione–Salute–Ricerca Scientifica). Thanks are due to the Ente Parco Regionale di Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli (Pisa) for authorization of the sampling. We also wish to thank Dr. Diego Bonomo for his technical assistance during the laboratory analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica, Università di Firenze, Via Romana 17, 50125, Florence, Italy

    Giuseppe Ungherese & Alberto Ugolini

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università di Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Davide Baroni & Silvano E. Focardi

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Firenze, V. le Morgagni 50, 50134, Florence, Italy

    Paola Bruni

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  1. Giuseppe Ungherese
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  2. Davide Baroni
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  3. Paola Bruni
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  4. Silvano E. Focardi
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  5. Alberto Ugolini
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Correspondence to Alberto Ugolini.

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Ungherese, G., Baroni, D., Bruni, P. et al. Metallothionein Induction in the Sandhopper Talitrus saltator (Montagu) (Crustacea, Amphipoda). Water Air Soil Pollut 219, 343–351 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0711-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0711-7

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