Multi-marker Approach in the Black Sea Urchin Arbacia lixula (Linnaeus, 1758) from Algerian West Coast

In this study, a multi-biomarker approach is applied to evaluate the biological responses of the black sea urchin Arbacia lixula along the west coast of Algeria. Sea urchins were sampled from six different Algerian West coast sites during two periods (February and August 2018). A series of biomarkers were monitored in the gonads: a glutathione-s-transferase enzyme involved in the phase II biotransformation process, Acetylcholinesterase as a biomarker of neurotoxicity, malondialdehydes as a biomarker of oxidative stress damage, metallothionein, a specific biomarker of metal stress, and Catalase as a biomarker of general stress. The data shows a significant effect of the period factor on the biomarker’s responses of A. lixula. The cold period seems to have a more marked influence on the variation of biomarkers, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibition, increased glutathione-s-transferase and catalase activity, and significantly elevated levels of metallothionein in contrast to malondialdehyde, whose levels are elevated in the hot period. Biomarker responses differed between sites depending on the degree of disturbance. Using the multi-biomarker pollution index allowed us to specify the state of health of each site, respecting a gradient of five pollution levels. The results indicate that site S4 is considered the most polluted, while site S3, the presumed reference site, appears to be the cleanest. The gonads of this species can be considered a reliable indicator of environmental stress and capable of establishing an integrated diagnosis of the state of the coastal ecosystem.