Munari week 2 Flashcards
What are biomarkers?
Measurable indicators used to assess biological, physiological, or pathogenic processes, as well as responses to environmental stressors.
What is the role of biomarkers in ecotoxicology?
Biomarkers assess the impairment of physiological or cellular functioning and help detect how organisms respond to contaminants.
Define biomarkers in ecotoxicology.
Indicators used to assess the effects of pollutants on the health of organisms and ecosystems.
Why are biomarkers important for environmental monitoring?
They allow early detection of stress, enabling preventive ecological risk assessments for public health and conservation.
What are biomarkers of exposure?
Indicators that show an organism has been in contact with a specific contaminant or environmental stressor.
Provide an example of a biomarker of exposure.
A chemical compound detected in an organism’s tissue indicating exposure to a pollutant.
What are biomarkers of effect?
Indicators that demonstrate biological changes or adverse effects due to exposure to a contaminant.
Give an example of a biomarker of effect.
An increase in an organism’s respiration rate due to environmental stress.
What are specific biomarkers?
Biomarkers that provide targeted responses to particular stressors, such as certain metals or pollutants.
Provide an example of a specific biomarker.
Specific responses to heavy metals like lead or cadmium.
What are generic biomarkers?
Indicators of stress or damage without specifying a particular pollutant or stressor source.
Give an example of a generic biomarker
General oxidative stress markers indicating damage due to various ROS or environmental stressors.
What is the role of biotransformation enzymes?
They detoxify pollutants by breaking them down into more manageable compounds.
What are Phase I enzymes?
Enzymes that initiate biotransformation by adding or exposing reactive groups on lipophilic chemicals to make them more soluble.
What are Phase II enzymes?
Enzymes that complete the biotransformation process by conjugating modified compounds with other molecules for excretion.
What are reactive oxygen species (ROS)?
Chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen that can cause significant structural changes in DNA, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates.
What are the effects of ROS on cells?
Oxidation of biomolecules, leading to mutations, structural damage, and potential cell death.
Which enzymes neutralize ROS?
Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase.
What is lipid peroxidation (LPO)?
The oxidative degradation of lipids, primarily affecting cell membranes.
What causes lipid peroxidation?
Hydroxyl radicals that attack unsaturated lipids in cell membranes.
What are the consequences of lipid peroxidation?
Membrane instability, increased permeability, and eventual cell damage.
What do immunological parameters measure in ecotoxicology?
The immune response of organisms under contaminant exposure.
Why are immunomarkers used?
- Predict immune responses.
- Assess ecological risks.
- Support public health assessments.
What is the difference between vertebrate and invertebrate immune systems?
- Invertebrates: Only have innate immunity.
- Vertebrates: Have both innate and adaptive immunity.
What are hemocytes and hemolymph?
- Hemocytes: Immune cells in invertebrates.
- Hemolymph: Circulatory fluid equivalent to blood in invertebrates.
How are hemocytes used in ecotoxicology?
They serve as immunomarkers indicating how contaminants affect immune defense.
What is an in vitro assay?
A test performed outside the organism using cell cultures.
What is an in vivo assay?
A test performed on live organisms, assessing effects on immune defenses rather than direct immune responses.
What is the purpose of ROS testing in cellular studies?
To assess oxidative stress and determine membrane stability.
How does lysozyme activity indicate membrane stability?
High lysozyme levels outside cells indicate membrane damage.
What is the Neutral Red Assay (NRA)?
A test that evaluates cell membrane integrity by measuring the retention of the neutral red dye in lysosomes.
What is vitellogenin, and why is it used as a biomarker?
A precursor to egg yolk proteins, used to detect endocrine disruption when present in males or juveniles.
What is an intersex condition?
A condition where organisms develop both male and female traits due to endocrine disruption.
What do ELS tests assess?
The effects of contaminants on fertilization, larval development, and juvenile growth.
Why are sea urchins commonly used in biomarker studies?
They are sensitive to environmental stressors and show measurable developmental responses to pollutants
What role do primary producers play in marine ecosystems?
They stabilize habitats, enhance resilience, and buffer against environmental stressors
How do primary producers buffer marine ecosystems against stressors?
By enhancing oxygen levels and providing structural support.
What are the main stressors affecting the Mediterranean Sea?
- Overfishing
- Climate change
- Pollution
- Habitat degradation
What is the ABBaCo project?
A project aimed at restoring the Bay of Bagnoli-Coroglio through passive and active restoration
What is the AFRIMED project?
A restoration project for degraded macroalgal forests like Cystoseira in the Mediterranean.
How do photosynthetic organisms contribute to resilience?
They act as carbon sinks, produce oxygen, and provide shelter for marine species.
How were buffer effects studied in the Porto Cesareo Marine Protected Area?
By collecting G. barbata samples and exposing them to normoxic and hyperoxic conditions under controlled temperature increases.
What were the findings regarding oxygen supersaturation?
It increased thermal tolerance in marine organisms by raising their lethal temperature by 1–4°C.
How can the findings on primary producers inform conservation strategies?
By supporting the protection and restoration of habitats to enhance biodiversity resilience against climate change
