CHAPTER 42
Colonisation, Gene Frequencies and Enzyme Activity at GPllocus
of Balanus amphitrite (Cirripedia: Thoracica) in the lagoon of Venice
V. Rossi!, R.Antoniettii, P. Bonilauri 1 , Gi. Ferrari 2 , Gr. Ferrari l , G. Gentile!, G. MagnaschiI,
C. Marchianil, and P. Menozzi 1
ABSTRACT
From May 1997 to April 1998 we have studied the colonisation dynamics of 88 experimental
panels, monitoring the allele and genotypic frequencies at GPI locus and GPI activity, of Balanus
amphitrite in 3 sites from the lagoon of Venice. Two sampling stations are characterised by
severe chemical (the Industrial Channel) and thermal pollution (the outflow of the cooling system of the Fusina electric power plant). A third station is located in the southern part of the
lagoon (Chioggia) where chemical pollution is relatively low and thermal pollution absent. The
mean number of successfully colonising animals is significantly different among sites and 80%
of total collected individuals is from the power plant outflow. Very low variability at GPI locus is
observed in all sites and on all dates; the frequency of the most common allele is higher than
90%. Most animals (91 %) are homozygotes and significant deficiency of heterozygotes, with
respect to the H-W equilibrium, is described in populations from the power plant outflow and
from Chioggia after 160 and 310 days from panel immersion, respectively. The GPI activity is
higher in homozygotes than in heterozygotes and is significantly different among stations. The
low genetic variability at GPI locus cannot be linked to chemical and thermal pollution.
Differences in enzymatic activity between genotypes and among sites indicate high fitness and
plasticity of the homozygote organisms.
Introduction
Cosmopolitan species Balanus amphitrite is
commonly associated with fouling and polluted
environments and is considered a typical biomonitor to establish bioavailability of heavy metals in the marine habitat (Rainbow 1995). In
North Adriatic Lagoons this is the most widespread barnacle species and Barbaro et a1. (1978)
described its potential use as an indicator of fluoride and several different heavy metals pollution. Previous work on populations from the
lagoon of Venice suggested that selection by
heavy metals acts in the Industrial Channel during the post-settlement phases and that significant differences in GPI activity exist among sites
characterised by different level and type, chemical and thermal, of pollution. and between genotypes (Patarnello et al. 1991; Montero et a1. 1994).
The GPI is a typical marker used to investigate
the genetic structure of marine organisms (Nevo
et aL 1977; Fairbrother and Beaumont 1993;
Hedgecock 1994; Holm and Bourget 1994; Viard
et al 1994). Moreover, this locus is considered
under selection in several species and codes for a
soluble enzyme, the phospho-glucose isomerase.
involved in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways (Hummel and Patarnello 1994; Hu et a1.
1993; da Silva and SoM-Cava 1994; Sloss et al.
1998). In B. amphitrite from Venice Lagoon,
Montero et al. (1994) reported that mean activity
of GPI is higher in homo zygotes at this locus, the
most frequent genotypic class, than in heterozygotes, and decreases significantly due to high
concentration of eu and Zn.
From May 1997 to April 1998 we have studied
the colonisation dynamics of experimental panels, monitoring the allele and genotypic frequen1 Dipartimento eli Scienze Ambientali, Universita eli Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 33/a, 43100 Parma, Italy
2 ENEL, Direzione Costruzione, Laboratorio di Piacenza, Piacenza, Italy
RM. Faranda, L GogJielmo, G. Sperle (eels)
Mediterranean Ecos.ystems: Structures and Processes
@ Springer-Verlag Italia 2001
Colonisation, Gene Frequencies and Enzyme Activity at GPllocus
of Balanus amphitrite (Cirripedia: Thoracica) in the lagoon of Venice
V. Rossi!, R.Antoniettii, P. Bonilauri 1 , Gi. Ferrari 2 , Gr. Ferrari l , G. Gentile!, G. MagnaschiI,
C. Marchianil, and P. Menozzi 1
ABSTRACT
From May 1997 to April 1998 we have studied the colonisation dynamics of 88 experimental
panels, monitoring the allele and genotypic frequencies at GPI locus and GPI activity, of Balanus
amphitrite in 3 sites from the lagoon of Venice. Two sampling stations are characterised by
severe chemical (the Industrial Channel) and thermal pollution (the outflow of the cooling system of the Fusina electric power plant). A third station is located in the southern part of the
lagoon (Chioggia) where chemical pollution is relatively low and thermal pollution absent. The
mean number of successfully colonising animals is significantly different among sites and 80%
of total collected individuals is from the power plant outflow. Very low variability at GPI locus is
observed in all sites and on all dates; the frequency of the most common allele is higher than
90%. Most animals (91 %) are homozygotes and significant deficiency of heterozygotes, with
respect to the H-W equilibrium, is described in populations from the power plant outflow and
from Chioggia after 160 and 310 days from panel immersion, respectively. The GPI activity is
higher in homozygotes than in heterozygotes and is significantly different among stations. The
low genetic variability at GPI locus cannot be linked to chemical and thermal pollution.
Differences in enzymatic activity between genotypes and among sites indicate high fitness and
plasticity of the homozygote organisms.
Introduction
Cosmopolitan species Balanus amphitrite is
commonly associated with fouling and polluted
environments and is considered a typical biomonitor to establish bioavailability of heavy metals in the marine habitat (Rainbow 1995). In
North Adriatic Lagoons this is the most widespread barnacle species and Barbaro et a1. (1978)
described its potential use as an indicator of fluoride and several different heavy metals pollution. Previous work on populations from the
lagoon of Venice suggested that selection by
heavy metals acts in the Industrial Channel during the post-settlement phases and that significant differences in GPI activity exist among sites
characterised by different level and type, chemical and thermal, of pollution. and between genotypes (Patarnello et al. 1991; Montero et a1. 1994).
The GPI is a typical marker used to investigate
the genetic structure of marine organisms (Nevo
et aL 1977; Fairbrother and Beaumont 1993;
Hedgecock 1994; Holm and Bourget 1994; Viard
et al 1994). Moreover, this locus is considered
under selection in several species and codes for a
soluble enzyme, the phospho-glucose isomerase.
involved in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways (Hummel and Patarnello 1994; Hu et a1.
1993; da Silva and SoM-Cava 1994; Sloss et al.
1998). In B. amphitrite from Venice Lagoon,
Montero et al. (1994) reported that mean activity
of GPI is higher in homo zygotes at this locus, the
most frequent genotypic class, than in heterozygotes, and decreases significantly due to high
concentration of eu and Zn.
From May 1997 to April 1998 we have studied
the colonisation dynamics of experimental panels, monitoring the allele and genotypic frequen1 Dipartimento eli Scienze Ambientali, Universita eli Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 33/a, 43100 Parma, Italy
2 ENEL, Direzione Costruzione, Laboratorio di Piacenza, Piacenza, Italy
RM. Faranda, L GogJielmo, G. Sperle (eels)
Mediterranean Ecos.ystems: Structures and Processes
@ Springer-Verlag Italia 2001