An integrated chemical and biomarker approach using Ucides cordatus (Crustacea; Decapoda) to assess trace element contamination and its biological impacts across two Amazonian estuaries.
8 affiliations
- 1Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology (REDE BIONORTE), State University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA, CEP 65055-310, Brazil. [email protected].
- 2Postgraduate Program in Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation, State University of Maranhão, Paulo VI Campus, São Luís, MA, CEP 65055-970, Brazil.
- 3Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology (REDE BIONORTE), State University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA, CEP 65055-310, Brazil.
- 4Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, CEP 36570-000, Brazil.
- 5Coordination of the Environmental Engineering Program, Federal University of Maranhão, Balsas, MA, CEP 65800-000, Brazil.
- 6Department of Fisheries Engineering, Federal University of Maranhão, Pinheiro, MA, CEP 65200-000, Brazil.
- 7Postgraduate Program in Agriculture and Environment, State University of Maranhão, Paulo VI Campus, São Luís, MA, CEP 65055-970, Brazil.
- 8Departmen of Biology, State University of Maranhão, Paulo VI Campus, São Luís, MA, CEP 65055-970, Brazil.
Abstract
In this study, an integrated chemical and biomarker approach was applied using the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus to assess trace element contamination and its biological impacts across two distinct Amazonian estuaries. Crabs were collected from São José Bay (A1-minimally impacted) and São Marcos Bay (A2-impacted by port activities) on the Amazon coast of Brazil. Simultaneously with crab sampling, physicochemical parameters and trace element levels in sediment and water samples were assessed. Biometric measurements included cephalothorax length and width, cheliped propodus length and width, movable finger length and width, and total weight. Two biomarkers, genotoxic responses (micronuclei) and histopathological lesions (gills and liver hepatopancreas), were measured. Abiotic parameters, such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity, were similar between the two study areas (A1 and A2). However, the concentrations of trace elements (Zn, Fe, Al, and Mn) in the water were increased in A2. Biometric data revealed that crabs from A2 were significantly smaller and lighter (p < 0.05) than those from A1. Gill lesions (marginal canal deformation, pillar cell rupture, and necrosis) were frequently observed in crabs from both sites, with a higher prevalence in A2. Hepatopancreas histological alterations (e.g., necrosis) were significantly more common in crabs from A2 (p < 0.05). Genotoxic responses, such as pycnotic nuclei, were also significantly more frequent in A2 (p < 0.05). The results demonstrate that Ucides cordatus effectively reflects environmental contamination through measurable histological and genotoxic biomarkers, which is consistent with the chemical evidence of trace element pollution in estuarine environments.
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BibTeX
@article{oliveira2026integrated,
title = {{An integrated chemical and biomarker approach using Ucides cordatus (Crustacea; Decapoda) to assess trace element contamination and its biological impacts across two Amazonian estuaries.}},
author = {Luciana Barros Oliveira and Lina Clara Gayoso E Almendra Ibiapina Moreno and Suelen Rosana Sampaio de Oliveira and Laércio Dos Anjos Benjamin and Débora Batista Pinheiro-Sousa and Gerson Dos Santos Protázio and Alana Lislea de Sousa and Thales Passos Andrade and Eliane Braga Ribeiro and Jonatas da Silva Castro and Gustavo Henrique Rodrigues Vale de Macedo and Luan Jonatas da Silva Ferreira and Verônica Maria Oliveira and Débora Martins Silva Santos and Sandra Fernanda Loureiro de Castro Nunes and Raimunda Nonata Fortes Carvalho Neta},
journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s10661-026-16077-4},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42905225},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - An integrated chemical and biomarker approach using Ucides cordatus (Crustacea; Decapoda) to assess trace element contamination and its biological impacts across two Amazonian estuaries.
AU - Luciana Barros Oliveira
AU - Lina Clara Gayoso E Almendra Ibiapina Moreno
AU - Suelen Rosana Sampaio de Oliveira
AU - Laércio Dos Anjos Benjamin
AU - Débora Batista Pinheiro-Sousa
AU - Gerson Dos Santos Protázio
AU - Alana Lislea de Sousa
AU - Thales Passos Andrade
AU - Eliane Braga Ribeiro
AU - Jonatas da Silva Castro
AU - Gustavo Henrique Rodrigues Vale de Macedo
AU - Luan Jonatas da Silva Ferreira
AU - Verônica Maria Oliveira
AU - Débora Martins Silva Santos
AU - Sandra Fernanda Loureiro de Castro Nunes
AU - Raimunda Nonata Fortes Carvalho Neta
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Environmental monitoring and assessment
DO - 10.1007/s10661-026-16077-4
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42905225
AB - In this study, an integrated chemical and biomarker approach was applied using the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus to assess trace element contamination and its biological impacts across two distinct Amazonian estuaries. Crabs were collected from São José Bay (A1-minimally impacted) and São Marcos Bay (A2-impacted by port activities) on the Amazon coast of Brazil. Simultaneously with crab sampling, physicochemical parameters and trace element levels in sediment and water samples were assessed. Biometric measurements included cephalothorax length and width, cheliped propodus length and width, movable finger length and width, and total weight. Two biomarkers, genotoxic responses (micronuclei) and histopathological lesions (gills and liver hepatopancreas), were measured. Abiotic parameters, such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity, were similar between the two study areas (A1 and A2). However, the concentrations of trace elements (Zn, Fe, Al, and Mn) in the water were increased in A2. Biometric data revealed that crabs from A2 were significantly smaller and lighter (p < 0.05) than those from A1. Gill lesions (marginal canal deformation, pillar cell rupture, and necrosis) were frequently observed in crabs from both sites, with a higher prevalence in A2. Hepatopancreas histological alterations (e.g., necrosis) were significantly more common in crabs from A2 (p < 0.05). Genotoxic responses, such as pycnotic nuclei, were also significantly more frequent in A2 (p < 0.05). The results demonstrate that Ucides cordatus effectively reflects environmental contamination through measurable histological and genotoxic biomarkers, which is consistent with the chemical evidence of trace element pollution in estuarine environments.
SN - 0167-6369
SN - 1573-2959
ER -