Are chrysene and manganese ecotoxic to meiobenthic copepods? Assessment through integrated quantitative/taxonomic tools and in silico modeling

The current study examined the effects of two pollutants, chrysene, and manganese, on the structure and diversity of free-living marine copepods along the Jeddah coast of Saudi Arabia. The experimental design included manganese (hereafter Mn) at two concentrations (Mn1 = 100 μg/g and Mn2 = 200 μg/g) and chrysene (hereafter CHR) at two concentrations (CHR1 = 1 μg/g and CHR2 = 2 μg/g), both individually and in combinations. The findings indicated a reduction in the abundance of all meiobenthic taxa following exposure to these pollutants. Notably, there was a significant decrease in numbers and species diversity among the copepods, with the greatest effects observed after exposure to treatments Mn2, Chr2/Mn2, and Chr1/Mn2. This pattern was confirmed through univariate indices and multivariate analyses. The research resulted in establishing a list of vulnerable species affected by chrysene and/or manganese, which could inform future governmental policy considerations. This kind of information is crucial for mitigating risks to human health. Additionally, the results underscored the harmful effects of chrysene and manganese on meiobenthic copepods, as supported by computational in silico modeling.