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Table 1. Reductase activities in tissues of sentinel specimens collected in 12 different sites in the Egadi Islands (Sicily) marine protected area.*

Patella caerulea Paracentrotus lividus

Sampling site NADH–ferry red activity NADH–cyt c red activity NADH–ferry red activity NADH–cyt c red activity

1C 1124.5 6 166.9# 88.3 6 12.2# 844.3 6 75.2# 157.4 6 28.2#
Marettimo 1602.0 6 173.5jj 188.7 6 38.9jj 658.8 6 95.5 127.4 6 25.1#
1B 479.0 6 28.8jj
Marettimo 724.2 6 76.8§ 53.7 6 20.5 §} 598.4 6 51.0 § 30.9 6 5.1jj
1A 1199.9 6 139.1# 108.9 6 9.2# 491.9 6 58.2jj§ 115.5 6 18.1#
Marettimo 1026.6 6 58.3# 374.7 6 28.8} 114.7 6 28.6#
2B 94.6 6 2.6# 359.1 6 33.1}
Marettimo 772.7 6 71.1§ 35.9 6 6.2} 676.9 6 82.9 31.9 6 6.4jj
5B 947.8 6 28.9 } 73.7 6 14.2 571.9 6 62.7 jj§ 29.6 6 1.5jj
Favignana 1101.8 6 44.8# 155.9 6 13.3jj 366.5 6 35.5} 51.8 6 5.4§
4C 1045.8 6 181.8# } 102.8 6 9.9# 551.2 6 17.4jj§ 65.9 6 4.2}
Favignana 728.1 6 55.2§ 54.4 6 2.5§ 505.0 6 37.1jj§ 55.3 6 3.1§
3C 772.7 6 132.7§} 96.9 6 15.5# 134.3 6 10.8#
Favignana 776.4 6 7.7§ 85.8 6 7.4# 106.1 6 18.2
1N
Favignana
3B
Levanzo
2C
Levanzo
2A
Maraone
4B
Formica

*For site numbers and zones, see map (Fig. 1). Values are means 6 standard deviation expressed as nmol x minÀ1 x mg protÀ1. For each enzyme activity, values that do not share at least one
symbol differ significantly.

24 h. A dose-dependent increase of NADH–ferry red activity worthwhile to clarify their potential to discriminate MPA zones
was observed until exposure to 5 ppm B(a)P. At the highest characterized by different environmental quality.
chemical concentration, approximately 50% of specimens died,
and both cytochrome P450 levels and reductase activities CONCLUSIONS
decreased markedly. Statistically significant increase of both
cytochrome P450 levels and NADH–cyt c red activity were This study is the first attempt to monitor environmental quality
found after exposure to either 1 or 5 ppm of B(a)P, but not at in the Egadi MPA by use of a biomarker approach. The
the lowest concentration of 0.1 ppm B(a)P. As regards biomarker systems that seemed best suited for discriminating
NADPH–cyt c red activity, a marked increase respect to different areas were EROD and BaPMO activities in the
control was observed at 5 ppm chemical dose only (Iacocca et sentinel species rainbow wrasse C. julis. Biomarkers in P.
al., unpublished data). caerulea and P. lividus were much more difficult to interpret.
Consequently, C. julis seemed to be the most suitable
The present results suggest that the activities investigated in bioindicator of those tested. However, the two invertebrates
P. caerulea might have the potential to discriminate between may have potential as sentinel organisms and are worthy of
MPA zones characterized by different environmental quality. further study. Future research should include both in situ
Further research is necessary. analysis of pollutants in sentinel species and responses of
enzyme activities to exposure to contaminants in vivo.
Paracentrotus lividus
As regards a preliminary evaluation of anthropogenic impact
The highest NADH–ferry red activities were recorded in in the MPA, the responses suggest higher aquatic environmental
samples from Marettimo Zone C (Station 1C) and were quality at Stations 1A, 2A, and 1C and lower quality at Station
significantly higher than activities in samples from the other 1N. This may be the result of point sources of pollution in the
sites. Statistically significant differences in NADH–ferry red latter area, including urban effluent and harbor activity. Most
activity were also found between sea urchins from Stations 4C, of the stations seem to have similar or not much different
2C, and 3C (low activities) and those from the other nine areas. aquatic environmental quality. Contrasting results obtained in
different parts of Zones B and C suggest that the borders and
Significantly higher NADH–cyt c red activities were legislation of the MPA need to be redefined. Further research is
recorded in urchins from Stations 1B, 2B, 1C, 5B, 2A, and 4B still needed to assess the validity of the present approach and to
with respect to those from the other sites. Specimens from determine contamination status (81, 82).
Favignana Harbor (Station 1N) and the two Levanzo stations
(Stations 3B and 2C) showed intermediate values, whereas References and Notes
organisms from Stations 1A, 3C, and 4C of Favignana showed
the lowest activities. 1. Islam, M.S. and Tanaka, M. 2004. Impacts of pollution on coastal and marine
ecosystems including coastal and marine fisheries and approach for management: a
The remarkable differences between enzyme activities in sea review and synthesis. Mar. Poll. Bull. 48, 624–649.
urchin from the different stations suggest enzyme induction.
However, reference MFO activities in the pyloric caeca of P. 2. Safe, S. and Phil, D. 1990. Polychlorinated biphenils (PCBs), dibenzo-p-dioxins
lividus have not yet been established, and the reductase activities (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and related compounds: environmental and
we obtained showed partial parallels as well as discrepancies. mechanistic consideration which support the development of toxic equivalency factors
The present results therefore do not allow us to make broader (TEFs). Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 21, 51–88.
statements concerning the environmental quality of the MPA.
Further study of these biomarkers in P. lividus seems 3. Goksøyr, A. and Fo¨ rlin, L. 1992. The cytochrome P-450 system in fish, aquatic
toxicology and environmental monitoring. Aquat. Toxicol. 22, 287–312.

4. Scholz, A., Bonzon, K., Fujita, R., Benjamin, N., Woodling, N., Black, P. and
Steinbacke, C. 2004. Participatory socioeconomic analysis: drawing on fishermen’s
knowledge for marine protected area planning in California. Mar. Policy 28, 335–349.

5. McManus, J.W., van Zwol, C., Garces, L.R. and Sadacharan, D. (eds). 1998. A
Framework for Future Training in Marine and Coastal Protected Area Management.
Conference Proceedings 57. ICLARM, Penang, Malaysia.

Ambio Vol. 36, No. 4, June 2007 Ó Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 2007 313
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