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ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT BIOINDICATORS: THE ECOMAN PROJECT A multi-biomarker approach to ecosystem management Malcolm B. Jones Rebecca Brown, Mark Browne, Awantha Dissanayake, Mike Depledge, Tamara Galloway & Dave Lowe School of Biological Sciences University of Plymouth & Plymouth Marine Laboratory CURRENT ISSUES • Increasing range of pollutants • Multiple mechanisms of toxicity • Complex coastal ecosystems • Diverse array of analytical and diagnostic tools • Limited public funds ECOMAN - PROJECT AIMS • To develop more pragmatic environmental assessment techniques linking environmental degradation with its causes • To apply a ‘weight-of-evidence’ approach to their use in ecosystem management BIOMARKER: A DEFINITION • Functional measures of exposure to stressors expressed at the sub-organismal, physiological or behavioural level (McCarthy and Munkittrick, 1996) • Surrogate measures of organism health and chemical impact Effects on Individuals Physiological Response Biochemical Response Molecular Change Pollutant Ecological Relevance Response Time Population & Community Effects SAMPLING STRATEGY • Defined by ecosystem hierarchy • Considers trophic level of sentinel organisms COMMON COASTAL ORGANISMS WITH DIFFERENT FEEDING TYPES Halichondria panicea filter feeder Nereis diversicolor Asterina gibbosa omnivorous scavenger Nucella lapillus omnivore carnivore AIM • To conduct a rapid assessment of marine pollution in coastal sites of the UK using the ECOMAN approach Background information Chemical analysis PAHs metals biocides Biological effects: general health lysosomal stability cardiac output immunocompetence Types of exposure hydrocarbons - PAH fluorescence metals - metallothionein genotoxins - micronucleus endocrine disruptors - imposex, intersex Detailed impact assessment and remedial action HOW CAN THESE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS BE USED TO REFLECT ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY? SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SITES (Anova, Kruskal Wallis) Biomarker molecular cellular physiological C. edule esterase activity metallothionein total protein PAH in urine filter feeder micronuclei lysosomal stability phagocytosis heart rate intersex index p = 0.0178 p = 0.0117 L. littorina C. maenas grazer carnivore p = 0.0016 p = 0.0473 p = 0.0060 p = 0.0000 MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Univariate analysis describes associations and relationships between individual variables Multivariate analysis examines the complex inter-relationships between many variables simultaneously MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS • Allow sites to be distinguished chemically • Allow sites to be distinguished biologically • Define the most sensitive organisms/biomarkers • Establish the relationship between biological and environmental variables CONCLUSIONS • In this pragmatic approach, ecological relevance guides the choice of species and biomarker • Ecosystem decline is not linear • Multivariate analysis can reveal complex inter-relationships between suites of biomarkers and environmental variables SUMMARY • The ECOMAN approach provides a viable framework for the incorporation of biomarkers into environmental management strategies ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • • • • • • Becky Brown Awantha Dissanayake Mark Browne David Lowe Tamara Galloway Mike Depledge • Ylva Olsen • Utra Mankasingh • Jo Hagger • Funded by DEFRA & The Environment Agency
