Effects of river pollution on its native biota: Results from 20 years studies in the Suquía, river basin (Córdoba, Argentina)

Abstract

The Suquía river receives a complex mixture of pollutants from anthropogenic activities, sewages, agricultural and industrial effluents from point and nonpoint pollution sources. Furthermore, it is particularly vulnerable to pollution due to its scarce and seasonal flow, short length and endorheic basin (Merlo et al. 2011). The presence of pollutants in a compartment of the aquatic ecosystem is not, by itself, a direct indication of harmful effects on the inhabiting biota. Associations must be established between external levels of exposure, internal levels of tissue contamination and early adverse effects. Therefore, the exposure to, fate and effects of chemical contaminants or pollutants on the aquatic ecosystem have been extensively studied by environmental toxicologists (van der Oost et al. 2003). The identity and concentration of pollutants in the Suquía River Basin has been extensively reported (Monferrán 2018; Santiago et al. 2018). Here, we will examine the accumulation of several chemicals in the exposed native biota (Biomarkers of exposure) and the biological responses that could be associated with a gradient of pollution in the Suquía river (Biomarkers of effect). These biological responses will cover different biological organization levels: from molecular to community level.