Imposex and ecological quality status in Stramonita brasiliensis (Claremount & Reid, 2011): A temporal (2007 to 2018) and spatial evaluation on the southeastern coast of Brazil

• Published in: Journal of sea research Vol. 174; p. 102080
• Main Authors: França, Millena Araujo, Otegui, Mariana Beatriz Paz, Zamprogno, Gabriela Carvalho, Menario, João Marcos F. Schuab, Costa, Mércia Barcellos da
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01-08-2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Antifouling substances; Bioindicator; Biomonitoring; Coastal zone; Contamination; Ecotoxicology; Endemic species; Environmental quality; Fishing; Imposex; Indexes (ratios); Penis; Pollution; Stramonita; Stramonita brasiliensis; Toxicity; Tributyltin; Tropical climate; Tropical environment; Tropical environments; Brazil; Biomonitoring; Tributyltin; Ecotoxicology; Bioindicator; Imposex; Stramonita brasiliensis
• ISSN: 1385-1101; 1873-1414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seares.2021.102080

This study evaluates tributyltin (TBT) pollution on a spatial-temporal scale using imposex occurrence in Stramonita brasiliensis in a coastal region of the southeast Brazil, between 2007 and 2018, and tests the viability of this species as a tool to evaluate the environmental quality through the Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR). Imposex indexes varied during the monitoring period, with I% varying from 0% to 100%, Vas Deference Sequence Index (VDSI) from 0 to 4.11 and Index of Relative Penis Length (RPLI) from 0 to 51. The EQR indexes indicated high levels of contamination by TBT in the first years of the study (2007 to 2011), followed by an improvement in the ecological status in the last two years (2017 and 2018). This study confirmed the viability of the use of EQR to evaluate the environmental status in a tropical region by means of an endemic species. Our results indicate that the Espírito Santo coastline is still contaminated with TBT, especially in areas close to ports and fishing activity.
•Regions with intense vessel traffic still show high imposex levels in Brazil.•Stramonita brasiliensis is a viable species for the use of Ecological Quality Ratio.•EQR and imposex indexes indicate a decrease in the effects caused by TBT.