Metal Bioaccumulation and Oxidative Stress in <i>Ulva laetevirens</i> in the Venice Lagoon: Early Warning Biomarker for Metal Bioaccumulation

Abstract

Transitional water systems (TWSs) may be threatened by various metals originating from increased agricultural, industrial activities, or urban effluents. Macroalgae are one of the biological quality elements used to monitor and assess the health status of TWS due to their structural and functional key role in marine ecosystems. Here, metal accumulation from the macroalgae Ulva laetevirens Areschoug (1854) and oxidative stress by lipid peroxidation (LPO) biomarker were investigated during four sampling seasons from three sampling sites (SMM: Santa Maria del Mare; PM: Porto Marghera; SG: San Giuliano) of Venice Lagoon, affected by different anthropogenic stressors. The metal pollution index (MPI) scores for U. laetevirens increased in the order SMM U. laetevirens as an early warning signal for health assessment in aquatic ecosystems.

Keywords

• Venice Lagoon
• lipid peroxidation
• oxidative stress
• <i>Ulva</i>
• metals