ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT BIOINDICATORS:

THE ECOMAN PROJECTA multi-biomarker approach to

ecosystem management

ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT BIOINDICATORS:

THE ECOMAN PROJECTA multi-biomarker approach to

ecosystem managementMalcolm B. Jones

Rebecca Brown, Mark Browne, Awantha Dissanayake, Mike Depledge, Tamara Galloway & Dave Lowe

School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Plymouth

&Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Malcolm B. JonesRebecca Brown, Mark Browne, Awantha Dissanayake,

Mike Depledge, Tamara Galloway & Dave LoweSchool of Biological Sciences

University of Plymouth&

Plymouth Marine Laboratory

CURRENT ISSUESCURRENT ISSUES

• Limited public funds• Limited public funds

• Increasing range of pollutants • Increasing range of pollutants

• Multiple mechanisms of toxicity• Multiple mechanisms of toxicity

• Complex coastal ecosystems• Complex coastal ecosystems

• Diverse array of analytical and diagnostic tools• Diverse array of analytical and diagnostic tools

ECOMAN - PROJECT AIMSECOMAN - PROJECT AIMS

• To apply a ‘weight-of-evidence’ approach to their use in ecosystem management• To apply a ‘weight-of-evidence’ approach to their use in ecosystem management

• To develop more pragmatic environmental assessment techniques linking environmental degradation with its causes

• To develop more pragmatic environmental assessment techniques linking environmental degradation with its causes

BIOMARKER: A DEFINITIONBIOMARKER: 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

• 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

PollutantPollutant

Effects on Individuals

Population & Community Effects

Physiological Response

Biochemical Response

Molecular ChangeR

esp

on

se T

ime

Res

po

nse

Tim

e

Eco

log

ical

Rel

evan

ceE

colo

gic

al R

elev

ance

SAMPLING STRATEGYSAMPLING STRATEGY

• Defined by ecosystem hierarchy• Defined by ecosystem hierarchy

• Considers trophic level of sentinel organisms• Considers trophic level of sentinel organisms

COMMON COASTAL ORGANISMS WITH DIFFERENT FEEDING TYPES

COMMON COASTAL ORGANISMS WITH DIFFERENT FEEDING TYPES

Halichondria paniceaHalichondria panicea Asterina gibbosa

Nereis diversicolorNereis diversicolor Nucella lapillusNucella lapillus

omnivorous scavengerfilter feederfilter feeder

omnivoreomnivore carnivorecarnivore

AIMAIM

• To conduct a rapid assessment of marine pollution in coastal sites of the UK using the ECOMAN approach

• To conduct a rapid assessment of marine pollution in coastal sites of the UK using the ECOMAN approach

Chemical analysisPAHsmetals

biocides

Background informationBackground information

Detailed impact assessment and remedial actionDetailed impact assessment and remedial action

Types of exposurehydrocarbons - PAH fluorescence

metals - metallothioneingenotoxins - micronucleus

endocrine disruptors - imposex, intersex

Biological effects:general health

lysosomal stabilitycardiac output

immunocompetence

HOW CAN THESE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS BE USED

TO REFLECT ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY?

HOW CAN THESE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS BE USED

TO REFLECT ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY?

SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SITES(Anova, Kruskal Wallis)

SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SITES(Anova, Kruskal Wallis)

Biomarker

esterase activitymetallothioneintotal proteinPAH in urine

Biomarker

esterase activitymetallothioneintotal proteinPAH in urine

C. edule

filter feeder

p = 0.0178p = 0.0117

C. edule

filter feeder

p = 0.0178p = 0.0117

L. littorina

grazer

p = 0.0000

L. littorina

grazer

p = 0.0000

C. maenas

carnivore

p = 0.0016p = 0.0473

C. maenas

carnivore

p = 0.0016p = 0.0473

molecular

cellular

physiological

molecular

cellular

physiological heart rateintersex indexheart rateintersex index

micronucleilysosomal stabilityphagocytosis

micronucleilysosomal stabilityphagocytosis

p = 0.0060p = 0.0060

MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSISMULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Univariate analysis describes associations and relationships between individual

variables

Multivariate analysis examines the complex inter-relationships between many variables

simultaneously

Univariate analysis describes associations and relationships between individual

variables

Multivariate analysis examines the complex inter-relationships between many variables

simultaneously

MULTIVARIATE ANALYSISMULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS

• Allow sites to be distinguished chemically• Allow sites to be distinguished chemically

• Allow sites to be distinguished biologically• Allow sites to be distinguished biologically

• Define the most sensitive organisms/biomarkers• Define the most sensitive organisms/biomarkers

• Establish the relationship between biological and environmental variables• Establish the relationship between biological and environmental variables

CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS

• In this pragmatic approach, ecological relevance guides the choice of species and biomarker

• In this pragmatic approach, ecological relevance guides the choice of species and biomarker

• Ecosystem decline is not linear• Ecosystem decline is not linear

• Multivariate analysis can reveal complex inter-relationships between suites of biomarkers and environmental variables

• Multivariate analysis can reveal complex inter-relationships between suites of biomarkers and environmental variables

SUMMARYSUMMARY

• The ECOMAN approach provides a viable framework for the incorporation of biomarkers into environmental management strategies

• The ECOMAN approach provides a viable framework for the incorporation of biomarkers into environmental management strategies

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• Becky Brown• Awantha Dissanayake• Mark Browne• David Lowe• Tamara Galloway• Mike Depledge

• Becky Brown• Awantha Dissanayake• Mark Browne• David Lowe• Tamara Galloway• Mike Depledge

• Ylva Olsen• Utra Mankasingh• Jo Hagger

• Funded by DEFRA & The Environment Agency

• Ylva Olsen• Utra Mankasingh• Jo Hagger

• Funded by DEFRA & The Environment Agency