Fishes as bioindicators ofFishes as bioindicators ofwater pollution of the Drava riverwater pollution of the Drava river

Domagoj Šegregur (4.f)

VII. Grammar school, Zagreb, Croatiamentor: prof. Vlatka Kuhar

Croatia

THE „AMAZON OF EUROPE”

DanubeDrava

Mura

Danube-Drava-Mura nominated forDanube-Drava-Mura nominated forUNESCO Transboundary Biosphere ReserveUNESCO Transboundary Biosphere Reserve

The Drava River and its influent-The Drava River and its influent-the Županijski Canalthe Županijski Canal

Županijski Canal ►

◄ Drava river

Water qualityWater quality

• 1. category • 5. category

ContaminationContamination

Can we avoid contamination of an ecosystem by earlier spotting of the presence of the

pollutants on molecular level and on level of complete organism?

BoindicatorsBoindicators

Indicator organ• main indicator organ in fish is liver, because it

accumulates harmful compounds

BiomarkersBiomarkers• liver enzymes are used as

biomarkers of liver damage

• concentration of metallothionein in liver is used as specific biomarker of metal exposure

Research questionResearch question

Can specific fish species and their biomarkers be appropriate for application in biomonitoring of

water pollution?

The purpose of investigationThe purpose of investigation

• to determine the differences in water quality upstream and downstream of a potential source of pollution

• evaluate the impact of water contamination on fish using biomarkers

• confirm their usefulness for application in biomonitoring of the water pollution

Method of investigationMethod of investigation

• sampling time: 27.10.2010 - 25.11.2010

Water sampling Water sampling

Županijski Canal, an influent of the Drava river

roach (Rutilus rutilus)

pike (Esox lucius)

20 fish x 2 location (40 fish samples)

SSampling ampling of fish of fish andand ddetermination of etermination of biometric biometric parametersparameters

Sampling for analysisSampling for analysis

• blood• liver• scale

Physico - chemical analysis of waterPhysico - chemical analysis of water

Health ecology, Institute of Public Health in Virovitica

AnalysisAnalysis of calcium of calcium andand liver enzymes liver enzymes from the blood of fishfrom the blood of fish

Biochemical laboratory of the General Hospital Virovitica

Determination of Determination of the vthe values of metals in alues of metals in water and metallothionein in the water and metallothionein in the fish fish liveliver

Ruđer Bošković Institute, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Zagreb

Determination of the age of fishDetermination of the age of fish

The picture was taken with optical microscope(100x magnification)

Fulton’s condition index

Hepatosomatic index

Gonadosomatic index

Results of Results of investigationinvestigation

● statistical analysis

Physico - chemical parametersPhysico - chemical parameters

MetalsMetals

Liver enzymesLiver enzymes

AST – aspartate aminotransferaseALT – alanine aminotransferase

MetallothioneinMetallothionein

roach (Rutilus rutilus)

pike (Esox lucius)

BBiometric parametersiometric parameters

Summarized resultsSummarized results

• water on both locations - 2nd category• values of liver enzymes - not significantly

different between two locations

• increased values of some metals downstream• higher values of metallothionein downstream

• condition index of fish lower downstream

ConclusionsConclusions

• wather downstream maintained good quality• confirmed by same values of liver enzymes

• Županijski Canal contributes to exposure of aquatic organisms to metals• proven by higher values of metallothionein downstream

• lower values of condition index of the fishes downstream indicate the impact of contamination

• higher values of liver enzymes remains open for my further research

Results suggest that selected fish species and biomarkers can be successfully used in

biomonitoring of water pollution.

With this approach we can avoid changes on higher levels of biological organization - population and ecosystem!

Thank you for your interest!