The Fal and Helford Pilot Project
Aims of the The Fal and Helford pilot project are
1) To demonstrate the benefits of novel analytical chemistry and ecotoxicological approaches to the measurement of water quality impacts.
2) To demonstrate to the user community, first-hand, some of the contributions and advantages that this type of research offer public sector agencies and industries in pursuit of their goal of improved environmental protection.
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APPLYING BIOLOGICAL-EFFECTS
TOOLS TO ASSESS THE CONDITION
OF EUROPEAN MARINE SITES The MBA and University of Plymouth
are currently engaged on this collaborative
project funded by English Nature The overall aim of this work is to evaluate
the feasibility and value of applying a rapid, cost-effective set of biological-effects
measurements (biomarkers) on SAC designated features in England, which
can then be deployed on a 6-yearly cycle. Ultimately, these tools will
be used alongside ecological and other environmental (chemical) data to
inform English Nature's condition assessment and advice to Government.
The Fal and Helford cSAC is the
principle focus of this work, Plymouth Sound and Estuaries cSAC, SPA,
is a second site featured in the EN study. It is intended to look at seasonal
and site variability in biomarker responses over a 12 month period.
Pressures in the Fal and Helford cSAC include:
Nutrient Enrichment: Parts of the system, notably the upper Fal estuary, are subject to eutrophication, due to diffuse sources such as agricultural run-off and localised enrichment from sewage discharges particularly in the more enclosed reaches of the upper estuary
Metals: Carrick Roads and some other areas of the cSAC are impacted by past mining activities outside the boundaries of the site (notably from Restronguet Creek) which continue to influence the area via mine drainage discharges and remobilisation of metals from sediments
TBT: The whole system, and in particular, the Falmouth area, is affected by organotin contamination. The principal source is Falmouth Dockyard, although sediments now also contribute significantly to the overall burden
The site characterisation reports heve been used to derive contextual information on gradients in water quality, bioaccumulation, biological impact and other pressures
In the first phase, biomarker responses will be studied in the following species in relation to these pressures:
Shore crab Carcinus maenas
Blue mussel Mytilus edulis
Lugworm Arenicola marina
Common cockle Cerastoderma edule
Edible periwinkle Littorina littorea
Dogwhelk Nucella lapillus
Peppery furrow shell Scrobicularia plana
These species provide 'surrogates' to assess, quantitatively, the well-being of a variety of SAC interest features and habitats designated by English Nature, including large shallow bays and inlets, reefs, mudflats, sandflats and estuaries.
A selection of biomarkers to be used include:
Total Oxyradical Scavenging Capacity (TOSC) The extent of damage to antioxidative systems can be determined by measurement of TOSC as a general marker of oxidative stress.
Feeding Rate - the feeding rate of mussels is a surrogate of general health status.
Heart Rate Monitoring - the cardiac activity of bivalves and crustaceans is a surrogate of general metabolic state.
inhibition of esterase enzymes - an indication of effects of pesticides and other neurotoxic compounds.
Induction of Metallothionein (MT) - an indication of heavy metal exposure and sublethal early warning index of stress.
Phagocytosis/Immunocompetence - measures immune function in invertebrates.
Micronucleus Formation - indicates exposure to genotoxic agents.
Imposex/Intersex - assessment of imposex or intersex in molluscs - indicates exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Lysosomal Stability/Neutral Red Retention (NRR) - to measure the retention time of the dye Neutral Red in haemocytes and provide an indication of membrane stability.
TARGETED CHEMISTRY
Nutrient enrichment. Design and deployment of portable instrumentation for rapid, in-situ nutrient (specifically nitrogen) speciation; Transect surveys and tidal cycle studies will be used to acquire high resolution datasets. to demonstrate the effectiveness of continuous monitoring - to investigate temporal and spatial variations.
Distributions of metals and TBT (axial and vertical profiles, sediment).
Trends in Bioavailability: With an emphasis on assessing diffuse pollution in sediment e.g. infaunal bivalves Scrobicularia plana and polychaetes Hediste diversicolor.
Selective chemical extracts (sediment metals) will be tested to see which, if any, acts as a surrogate measure of bioavailability and to separate natural and anthropogenic components.
Invitation to participate
If you are currently conducting research in the Fal and Helford cSAC, and consider that you have some information or expertise that might contribute to this project and compliment the project outlined above, please contact us at the South West Marine Science Forum.