Utilização de peixes do gênero astyanax sp como bioindicadores de contaminação ambiental no rio santa maria, rosário do sul - rs

Abstract

Pampa biome located in southern Brazil is an ecosystem of great biodiversity and important ecological function. However, this natural wealth is being neglected academically and also threatened due to intense human activity. Inadequate management of waste and increasing use of pesticides is the main causes of environmental problems in water resources of this biome. Among them is located the basin of the Santa Maria River, responsible for supplying of water to some cities. Due to the importance of maintenance of water resources, this study aims to assess the ecotoxicological risk of the Santa Maria River, using fish genus Astyanax sp captured at a point located in Rosario do Sul - RS, Brazil, as bioindicators. This model organism popularly known as lambari has ideal characteristics that qualify as bioindicator, they are: the trophic level they occupy and their large geographical distribution. Observing changes in well-characterized biomarkers in ecotoxicological studies, as decreased activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is related to pesticide contamination of the environment by pesticides organophosphates and carbamates, and the increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes involved in detoxification routes (GST, CAT, GPx and TrxR), as well as the significant increase in the levels of lipid peroxidation, totals hydroperoxides and GSH is observed that these animals has suffered stress arising from human activities in the region, particularly in relation to water contamination.