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Imposex effects on the veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) in Bohai Bay, China

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Abstract

Environmentally relevant concentrations of organotin compounds (OTs) may trigger sex changes in marine invertebrates and pose a threat to the marine ecosystem. In this study, we investigated organotin levels and the biological responses of wild veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) from Lüjuhe district (LJH), Dashentang district (DST), and Nanpaihe district (NPH) in Bohai Bay, China. We found that 11.11 and 22.95 % of the veined rapa whelks from DST and NPH exhibited imposex characteristics with a relative penis size index (RPSI) of 12.50 and 12.31, respectively. The RNA/DNA ratio was significantly lower in females from DST than those from LJH (p < 0.05), and a slight increase in DNA damage was observed in females and imposex individuals compared to males. Moreover, less genetic distance occurred between LJH and NPH (0.016) than between LJH and DST (0.028), although they belonged to the same regional population. OTs analysis showed that triphenyltin chloride concentrations (41.45 ng/g dried weight) were significantly higher than tributyltin concentrations (9.51 ng/g dried weight) in tissues (p < 0.05), but no significant differences were observed in sediments (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the occurrence of imposex individuals and biological responses of the wild veined rapa whelk from Bohai Bay suggest that the marine ecosystem might be at risk.

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Abbreviations

OTs:

Organotin compounds

MBT:

Monobutyltin

DBT:

Dibutyltin

TBT:

Tributyltin

MPT:

Monophenyltin trichloride

DPT:

Diphenyltin dichloride

TPT:

Triphenyltin

EDCs:

Endocrine disrupting chemicals

RPSI:

Relative penis size index

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Acknowledgments

The present study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [21177117], [21107147] and National Key Technologies R&D Program [2010BAC69B02]. The authors would like to thank Dr. Yanjie Qin for help in AFLP analysis, and we also thank to Dr. Jakšić for his suggestions on analysis the DNA integrity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy for Environment Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Li-hui An, Yanqiang Zhang, Shuang-shuang Song, Yue Liu, Zi-cheng Li, Hao Chen, Xing-ru Zhao & Bing-hui Zheng

  2. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, Chinese Research Academy for Environment Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Li-hui An, Kun Lei & Bing-hui Zheng

  3. College of Urban Construction and Environmental Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China

    Junmin Gao

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  1. Li-hui An
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  2. Yanqiang Zhang
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  10. Bing-hui Zheng
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Correspondence to Bing-hui Zheng.

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An, Lh., Zhang, Y., Song, Ss. et al. Imposex effects on the veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) in Bohai Bay, China. Ecotoxicology 22, 538–547 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-013-1046-0

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