EcotoxicologyPub Date : 2026-09-26DOI: 10.1007/s10646-026-03161-1
Alistar Moy, Kabwe Nkongolo
{"title":"Harnessing the interplay between metal toxicity and DNA methylation in plants.","authors":"Alistar Moy, Kabwe Nkongolo","doi":"10.1007/s10646-026-03161-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-026-03161-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Research into how plants adapt to stress through genetic and epigenetic mechanisms is a rapidly evolving field, with epigenetic flexibility serving as a critical factor for survival in heavily contaminated, high-metal environments. Cutting-edge technologies, specifically Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS) and Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS), have revolutionized this area by moving beyond broad, genome-wide surveys to pinpoint specific, gene-level alterations induced by metal stress. These high-throughput methods have fundamentally transformed the landscape of environmental plant research. Critical analysis of the literature revealed that exposure to metal stressors triggers rapid, time-dependent shifts in plant DNA methylation, often occurring within minutes. These epigenetic responses are highly contingent on species and genetic background, and the specific metal stressor involved, facilitating site-specific gene regulation without altering the underlying DNA sequence. This flexibility allows plants to modulate gene expression primarily through hypermethylation (70%) rather than hypomethylation (30%) to maintain homeostasis and develop heritable stress memory. These modifications predominantly target genes associated with metal transport (60%), such as HMA, ZIP, and ABC transporters, followed by sequestration (20%) and other metabolic functions (20%). Ultimately, harnessing these epigenetic mechanisms offers a pathway to developing crop cultivars that not only exhibit enhanced tolerance and productivity in contaminated environments but also restrict the accumulation of toxic metals in edible tissues, thereby improving food safety and supporting sustainable agriculture on Bednarekmarginal lands. Despite major analytical breakthroughs, the precise role of DNA methylation in regulating gene responses to metal toxicity remains a critical, unresolved challenge in research. This review provides an overview of DNA methylation mechanisms and outlines the plant genes that are modified in response to metal exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":11497,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology","volume":"35 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149059312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcotoxicologyPub Date : 2026-09-26DOI: 10.1007/s10646-026-03159-9
Bruna R M Campelo, Ana J D Monteiro, José W da S Melo, E Debora B Lima
{"title":"Sublethal abamectin exposure alters intraguild predation and population structure of predatory mites.","authors":"Bruna R M Campelo, Ana J D Monteiro, José W da S Melo, E Debora B Lima","doi":"10.1007/s10646-026-03159-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10646-026-03159-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chemical contaminants can disrupt predator-prey dynamics in agroecosystems, particularly through intraguild predation (IGP), a key interaction influencing population structure and dynamics. The objective of this study was to investigate intraguild predation between Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) and Euseius alatus DeLeon (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae), with particular emphasis on how an extraguild food resource (pollen), sublethal exposure to the acaricide abamectin, and their combined effects influence predator feeding behavior, oviposition, and population dynamics. Adult females of both predators were exposed to intraguild prey (eggs and larvae) in the presence or absence of extraguild food (pollen) and abamectin residues. In addition, population-level experiments were conducted to evaluate long-term interaction outcomes. Experimental results revealed that both feeding activity and oviposition of the two predator species were significantly affected by the presence of pesticide residues and the availability of pollen as an extraguild food source. Population dynamics assays indicated that A. largoensis was the dominant species; however, exposure to pesticide residues reduced the longevity of both predator populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":11497,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology","volume":"35 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13615998/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149059282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcotoxicologyPub Date : 2026-09-24DOI: 10.1007/s10646-026-03151-3
Ji Hoon Kim, Thodhal Yoganandham Suman, Junsik Woo, Ihn Sil Kwak
{"title":"Survival, antioxidant enzyme activities, and bioaccumulation response in freshwater snail Radix plicatula (W. H. Benson, 1842) to arsenic.","authors":"Ji Hoon Kim, Thodhal Yoganandham Suman, Junsik Woo, Ihn Sil Kwak","doi":"10.1007/s10646-026-03151-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-026-03151-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Arsenic contamination threatens freshwater aquatic ecosystems; however, integrated studies of bioaccumulation and toxicological mechanisms in gastropods remain limited. This study assessed acute and chronic toxicity in Radix plicatula by integrating survival, antioxidant enzyme activity, and tissue bioaccumulation measurements. We exposed snails to three arsenic concentrations for 21 days. Survival declined dose- and time-dependently from 98.3% (controls) to 83.3% (high concentrations) by day 21. Antioxidant enzymes showed biphasic responses, catalase (CAT) peaked on day 7 and then declined, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) peaked on day 14 at 4-fold above control levels. Tissue arsenic accumulation showed a dose-dependent, strong linear relationship (R² = 0.85-0.97). Bioaccumulation intensified with prolonged exposure (with BSAF shifting from ≤ 1 to ≥ 2). Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) measurements correlated strongly with tissue arsenic concentrations (R² = 0.71), confirming DGT as a reliable bioavailability indicator in Arsenic contamination. Radix plicatula is a sensitive bioindicator of arsenic contamination in freshwater ecosystems. This integrated approach advances mechanistic understanding of arsenic toxicity in freshwater gastropods.</p>","PeriodicalId":11497,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology","volume":"35 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149037076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcotoxicologyPub Date : 2026-09-24DOI: 10.1007/s10646-026-03165-x
Lennart Weltje, Dhruv Savaliya
{"title":"An interspecies correlation estimation (ICE) model to predict acute toxicity of organic chemicals to the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) using rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) data.","authors":"Lennart Weltje, Dhruv Savaliya","doi":"10.1007/s10646-026-03165-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-026-03165-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An interspecies correlation estimation (ICE) model is presented to predict the 96-h acute LC<sub>50</sub> for tadpoles of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) using juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 96-h LC<sub>50</sub> values. Both species are standard laboratory test species with a long history in aquatic toxicology. While the rainbow trout is one of the fish species most commonly used for acute testing, the African clawed frog is primarily used in endocrine assays. However, acute toxicity information for X. laevis may be required for test concentration setting in the endocrine assays and, where required, as input for the aquatic risk assessment for amphibians. To establish the correlation equation, acute toxicity data were collected for X. laevis and matched with those for O. mykiss from publicly available databases. After curating the data (i.e., converting the units, calculating geometric mean values in case multiple values for a chemical were available, and checking for potential outliers), the regression equation was established based on 138 LC<sub>50</sub> values for 69 chemicals. As expected, there was a highly significant correlation between the two species (Spearman's r<sub>s</sub> = 0.86, p < 0.0001) and the ICE was deemed statistically robust (R² = 0.74; p < 0.0001) according to the criteria of US EPA's software WebICE. The obtained regression equation can be used as a non-testing method to generate an amphibian LC<sub>50</sub> value (in case a rainbow trout value is available) for use in hazard and risk assessment. By applying this robust ICE model, additional vertebrate studies can be avoided.</p>","PeriodicalId":11497,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology","volume":"35 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149037088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcotoxicologyPub Date : 2026-09-18DOI: 10.1007/s10646-026-03153-1
Emircan Aksoy, Mert Gürkan, Ezgi Can Güzel, İrem Can, Selin Ertürk Gürkan
{"title":"Tissue-specific histopathological and oxidative stress responses of Mytilus galloprovincialis to ammonia-based caramel colourants.","authors":"Emircan Aksoy, Mert Gürkan, Ezgi Can Güzel, İrem Can, Selin Ertürk Gürkan","doi":"10.1007/s10646-026-03153-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-026-03153-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The extensive use of caramel colourants in processed foods has led to increasing production volumes, yet information regarding their biological effects in aquatic organisms remains limited. While safety assessments have largely focused on dietary exposure, comparative data on ammonia-based caramel classes under waterborne conditions are scarce. The present study investigated the acute effects of Ammonia Caramel (Caramel III) and Sulfite-Ammonia Caramel (Caramel IV) in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, a widely used marine sentinel species. Mussels were exposed for 96 h to 0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg/L of each caramel class. Concentrations were selected based on available ecotoxicological information for Caramel IV and to allow comparative evaluation of Caramel III under controlled aquatic conditions. Histopathological alterations and oxidative stress biomarkers were assessed in gill and digestive gland tissues. Both caramel classes induced concentration-dependent and tissue-specific responses. Gill tissue exhibited epithelial deformation, hyperplasia, lamellar fusion, hemocyte infiltration, and lipofuscin accumulation, whereas the digestive gland showed progressive tubular disorganisation, luminal dilation, vacuolisation, and epithelial atrophy. Antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GST) were activated in parallel with increased lipid peroxidation, indicating that compensatory antioxidant responses were insufficient to fully prevent oxidative damage. Multivariate analyses confirmed integrated biochemical shifts and clear separation between control and exposed groups. Across most endpoints, Caramel III elicited stronger structural and biochemical alterations than Caramel IV at comparable concentrations. These findings highlight differential biological responses between ammonia-based caramel classes and provide new ecotoxicological evidence for Caramel III in a marine invertebrate model.</p>","PeriodicalId":11497,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology","volume":"35 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149001470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcotoxicologyPub Date : 2026-09-11DOI: 10.1007/s10646-026-03148-y
Tamara Petronijević, Jelena Stojanović, Jelena Vitorović, Dimitrija Savić Zdravković, Margareta Kračun Kolarević, Đurađ Milošević, Nikola Stanković
{"title":"Assessing the risk of cyanobacterial toxins in freshwater ecosystems: microcystin-LR exposure in Chironomus riparius larvae.","authors":"Tamara Petronijević, Jelena Stojanović, Jelena Vitorović, Dimitrija Savić Zdravković, Margareta Kračun Kolarević, Đurađ Milošević, Nikola Stanković","doi":"10.1007/s10646-026-03148-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-026-03148-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cyanobacteria produce a variety of secondary metabolites, including the potent and widespread toxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR). While the toxic effects of MC-LR on aquatic species are well documented, its impact on Chironomid larvae, key organisms in freshwater food chains, remains insufficiently understood. This study investigated the acute toxicity of MC-LR at environmentally relevant concentrations (5, 10, 15, and 30 µg/L) on Chironomus riparius (Diptera, Chironomidae). The effects of the tested concentrations were evaluated using a multi-biomarker approach, including hemoglobin levels, oxidative stress markers (advanced oxidation protein products [AOPP], malondialdehyde [MDA], catalase [CAT], and superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity), and DNA damage in 4th instar larvae of C. riparius. Using this approach, MC-LR exposure significantly increased DNA damage in larvae across all concentrations, with a clear dose-response relationship. Hemoglobin levels declined with increasing MC-LR concentration, with significant reductions at 5 and 10 µg/L MC-LR. Antioxidant responses showed a concentration-dependent decrease in CAT activity. SOD activity and MDA levels showed increasing trends, although these changes were not statistically significant. AOPP levels were significantly elevated at 10 µg/L MC-LR. This study demonstrates that MC-LR affects physiological and biochemical processes in 4th instar C. riparius larvae, representing the first assessment of sublethal effects under environmentally relevant conditions. Such alterations indicate early physiological stress with potential consequences for larval fitness and trophic interactions in freshwater ecosystems. These findings may have ecological implications through their influence on physiological functioning, particularly processes related to oxygen transport, oxidative balance, and DNA integrity, although confirmation under chronic exposure conditions is required.</p>","PeriodicalId":11497,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology","volume":"35 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148944523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcotoxicologyPub Date : 2026-09-02DOI: 10.1007/s10646-026-03142-4
El-Sayed M S Mokbel, Nourhan A El-Said, Eman A Fouad
{"title":"Realized heritability, mode of inheritance, and fitness costs of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) resistance to chlorantraniliprole.","authors":"El-Sayed M S Mokbel, Nourhan A El-Said, Eman A Fouad","doi":"10.1007/s10646-026-03142-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-026-03142-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an economically important pest in Egypt. This study examines the inheritance patterns, potential for resistance development, and fitness costs associated with chlorantraniliprole (CHL) resistance in S. littoralis. Laboratory selection over 15 generations resulted in a substantial resistance level, with a resistance ratio of 402.85-fold. Genetic analysis, including reciprocal crosses and backcrosses, revealed that CHL resistance is autosomal, polygenic, and exhibits incomplete dominance. The estimated realized heritability (h²) of resistance was 0.37, indicating a considerable potential for resistance development under selection pressure. Fitness assessments revealed no significant reproductive penalties associated with resistance; however, the resistant strain exhibited a significant developmental delay in the larval and pre-adult stages. These findings suggest that CHL resistance can rapidly evolve and persist in field populations, thereby complicating control efforts. The polygenic inheritance pattern underscores the complex genetic mechanisms underlying resistance, necessitating integrated management strategies. The reduced fitness costs further emphasize the importance of implementing proactive resistance management, such as rotating insecticides with different modes of action and integrating nonchemical control measures, to sustain the efficacy of CHL. Overall, this study provides critical insights into the genetic and biological dynamics of CHL resistance in S. littoralis, underscoring the urgency of vigilant resistance monitoring and strategic control practices to mitigate resistance and prolong the utility of CHL in pest management programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":11497,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology","volume":"35 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148879179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcotoxicologyPub Date : 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1007/s10646-026-03150-4
Xinyu Lu, Ze Zhang, Rong Huang, Yanhui Ge
{"title":"Physiological responses of Chlorella vulgaris upon coexposure to β-lactam antibiotics and Ag NPs.","authors":"Xinyu Lu, Ze Zhang, Rong Huang, Yanhui Ge","doi":"10.1007/s10646-026-03150-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10646-026-03150-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present study investigated the joint effects of β-lactam antibiotics and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris). The results show that when a single analyte was treated with amoxicillin (AM), aztreonam (AZ) and Ag NPs, the growth of C. vulgaris significantly decreased with increasing exposure concentration. The 96 h median effect concentration (EC<sub>50</sub>) was determined, and the toxicity of the three substances decreased in the order of Ag NPs > AZ > AM. In the cotreatments, the joint effects of Ag NPs and antibiotics on C. vulgaris were synergistic. Similarly, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images also revealed that compared with coexposure, single-analyte exposure caused less damage to C. vulgaris. Grey correlation analysis was employed to assess the impact of combined β-lactam antibiotics and Ag NPs on the aforementioned indicators. Our findings contribute greatly to a better understanding of the joint effects of β-lactam antibiotics and Ag NPs on aquatic organisms and can provide solid evidence for ecological risk assessment of the coexistence of β-lactam antibiotics and Ag NPs in aquatic environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":11497,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148873351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcotoxicologyPub Date : 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1007/s10646-026-03158-w
Göktuğ Gül
{"title":"Oxidative stress and immune signatures of carbamazepine in freshwater mussels.","authors":"Göktuğ Gül","doi":"10.1007/s10646-026-03158-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10646-026-03158-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The persistence of pharmaceutical compounds in aquatic environments and their limited removal by conventional treatment processes necessitate evaluating organism-level effects of long-term exposure using biomarkers. To determine how carbamazepine (CBZ), commonly detected in environmental waters, modulates immune and oxidative stress responses in the freshwater mussel Unio delicatus, individuals (n = 160) were exposed to sublethal CBZ concentrations for 21 and 45 days under semi-static conditions. Exposure concentrations were set at 199 µg/L (D1), 995 µg/L (D2), and 1.99 mg/L (D3), corresponding to 1%, 5%, and 10% of the LC<sub>50</sub> (19.9 mg/L). The experimental environment was conducted under controlled physicochemical conditions, and the water was periodically replaced to maintain target concentrations. Total haemocyte counts (THCs) were determined from haemolymph tissue; malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in gill and digestive gland tissues. In addition, GSH and MDA data were integrated, and the total stress load was assessed using the Integrated Biomarker Response v2 (IBRv2) index. CBZ exposure led to significant increases in THCs, particularly at low doses, and this response became more pronounced after 45 days of exposure. Oxidative stress markers showed a tissue- and time-dependent relationship: MDA tended to increase in the gills during the early period, while it generally decreased with long-term exposure; an increase was observed in the digestive gland at high doses during the early period. GSH levels decreased with short-term exposure, but increased after 45 days of exposure, especially in the digestive gland. IBRv2 revealed that the total stress load increased at high doses, reaching 4.19 and 4.80 at 21 and 45 days, respectively, in the D3 group. In conclusion, CBZ regulates the immune system and redox balance in U. delicatus in a tissue, dose, and time-dependent manner. However, the decrease in MDA and the increase in GSH observed in some tissues after prolonged exposure should be interpreted cautiously as possible compensatory redox responses rather than definitive evidence of adaptation, since the elevated IBRv2 values indicate that the overall stress burden persisted.</p>","PeriodicalId":11497,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148873429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcotoxicologyPub Date : 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1007/s10646-026-03137-1
Yasser I Hamza, Ahmed S Bream, Mohammed A Mahmoud, Sanad H Ragab, Hanan H Altaief, Nesreen K Shareef, Emad M S Barakat, Mohamed A M El-Tabakh
{"title":"Biomonitoring of industrial heavy metal pollution via enzymatic and metabolic responses in desert ants (Cataglyphis savignyi) and beetles (Tentyrum sp) as bioindicators.","authors":"Yasser I Hamza, Ahmed S Bream, Mohammed A Mahmoud, Sanad H Ragab, Hanan H Altaief, Nesreen K Shareef, Emad M S Barakat, Mohamed A M El-Tabakh","doi":"10.1007/s10646-026-03137-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10646-026-03137-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The current work seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of Cataglyphis saviginyi and Tentyrum sp as indicators of pollution in the city's main industrial regions by analyzing their enzymatic activity and primary metabolites. Soil samples were collected at each site under investigation to analyze soil characteristics and heavy metal content. C. saviginyi and Tentyrum sp were collected across four consecutive seasons (2023-2024) to investigate enzymatic (GPT, GOT, ALP, ACP, LDH) and metabolic (lipid, protein, carbohydrate) biomarkers. The physicochemical properties of the soil differed substantially between the industrial areas and the control site. Soil heavy metal buildup was highest at industrial sites (1 and 4) compared to the control site, with the order being Zn > Cr > Cd > Cu. Heavy metal pollution indices were determined. Increased industrial activity from metal industries, ceramics, and chemical painting companies defines this area, as seen by the high Cdeg, mCd, PI, and PLI values derived for industrial sites 1 and 4. While C. saviginyi and Tentyrum sp deconcentrated and released Cr, Cd, and Zn into the soil via the biological accumulation factor (BAF), Cu acted as a macro-concentrator. Compared with the control site, industrial environments were shown to increase levels of GPT, GOT, LDH, ACP, protein, and carbohydrates in C. saviginyi. However, lipid and ALP activity was suppressed. at industrial sites, Tentyrum sp carbohydrate content was higher than at control sites, but GPT, GOT, ALP, ACP, LDH, protein, and lipid activities were all suppressed. Consequently, enzymatic and metabolic biomarkers proved to be sensitive indicators for assessing industrial heavy metal pollution in desert ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":11497,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148873263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}