International Journal of Marine Science, 2016, Vol.6, No.9, 1-20
11
Continue Table 3
Stable C, N and H isotope ratios and Carbon-14 isotopes are being used for the identification of sources of
pollutants like PAHs, PCBs, Hydrocarbons/oil contamination and waste disposal from land (Mckinney, 2012;
Carballeira, 2012). C14 can also be used for the isotope labelling studies to understand the fate of contaminants.
Stable isotope ratio measurements of chlorine and oxygen have been applied for discrimination of different
perchlorate (ClO
4 –
) sources in the environment. The stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes are mainly used to track
biomagnification of persistent bioaccumulative toxic pollutants (PBTs) (Aubail
et al
., 2011; Cardona-Marek
et al
.,
2009; Cabana and Rasmussen, 1994). This is due to difference in fractionation with trophic levels, these two
elements give complementary information. Stable nitrogen isotope ratios (15N/14N) increase at every step in the
food chain because stable N isotope concentration increase 3-4‰ per trophic level and thus indicating trophic
level, while stable carbon isotope is enriched slightly by about 1‰ per trophic level and can provide information
on the primary carbon sources into food webs (Michner and Schell, 1994). The isotope ratio mass spectrometry
(IRMS) is used for the detection of isotope ratios.
Lavoie
et al
. (2010) studied the transfer of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in a Gulf of St.
Lawrence food web to the trophic structure, from primary consumers to seabirds, using stable nitrogen (
δ
15
N) and
carbon (
δ
13
C) isotope analysis. He observed that biomagnification power were greater for pelagic and
benthopelagic species compared to benthic species whereas the opposite trend was observed for levels at the base
of the food chain.
Organism
Biomarker/
Bioindicator
Type of pollutant
References
Transgenic
Microalgae
(
C. reinhardtii
)
Expression of P5CS gene, Higher
free-Proline levels than wild-type
cells, grew to higher densities than
wild-type cells,
sequestered four
times more Cd per cell than
wild-type cultures.
Cd
Siripornadulisl
et al.,
2002
Lichen
alga (
T.erici
)
Accumulation of free
Proline
Cu stress
Backor
et al.,
2004
Algae
(
C.reinhardtii
)
Expression of HSP 70 genes
(involved with a chloroplast-
localized chaperone) and several
SHSP.
Heavy metal
Schroda
et al.,
1999,
Alga (
T.erici
)
Expression of HSP 70
Short term
Exposure to excess Cd and Cu
Backor
et al.,
2006
Marine micro algae (
Fucus
serratus
)
Expression of HSP 70
Cd stress
Ireland
et al.,
2004
Red algae (
Meristiella gelidium
) Increased production of
brominated halocarbons
H
2
O
2
Collen
et al.,
1994
Algae
(
C. reinhardtii
)
Formation of more granulous and
less- dense Stroma, severely
inhibiting essential chloroplast
processes such as photosynthesis
Selenium toxicity
Morlon
et al.,
2005
Shark
(
Schroederichthhys chilensis
)
Increase of ethoxyresorufin
dealkylation
(EROD activity)
PAH
Fuentes-Rios
et al.,
2005
Oyster
(
Crassostrea virginica
)
Induction of MTs
Toxic metals
Roesijadi
et al.,
1997
Mussel
(
M. galloprovincialis, Mullus
barbatus
)
Induction of MTs
Toxic metals
Petrovic
et al.,
2001,
