在南美西部(WSA),认识到宽吻海豚的两个亚种:Tursiopstruncatusegphyreus,主要发现于河口和河口,和Tursiopstruncatustruncatus,发生在大陆架上。尽管有部分空间重叠,这两个亚种被认为占据不同的栖息地和生态位。在本研究中,化学分析以及生化和分子生物标志物被用来研究生态位分配对与持久性有机污染物(POPs)解毒相关的代谢途径的影响,抗氧化代谢,生活在近工中的Tursiopstruncatus亚种的免疫活性和脂质代谢。总的来说,生物累积的多氯联苯的概况和水平,农药和多溴二苯醚在组间相似,有更多种类的杀虫剂,如γ-HCHs,七氯,氧氯丹和o,p\'DDT,在血液中检测到。多变量方差分析(MANOVA)和非度量多维缩放(NMDS)结果表明,沿海海豚的谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)酶活性较高,金属硫蛋白2A(MT2A)的mRNA水平,白细胞介素-1α(IL-1α),神经酰胺合酶3(CERS3)和脂肪酸延伸酶(ELOVL4)。并行,海洋海豚中脂肪酸合酶复合物1(FASN1)的mRNA水平较高。这些发现表明,由于它们发生在沿海栖息地,斑驳菌更多地暴露于环境污染物和病原微生物中。同样,生态位分配可能会影响脂质生物合成,可能是由于喂养习惯的差异,反映出长链神经酰胺的生物合成增强。总的来说,这些数据加强了在保护工作中解决栖息地特殊性的必要性,因为不同的群体在WSA中可能面临不同的人为压力。
In western South America (WSA) two subspecies of bottlenose dolphin are recognized: Tursiops truncatus gephyreus, predominantly found in estuaries and river mouths, and Tursiops truncatus truncatus, occurring along the continental shelf. Despite a partial spatial overlap, both subspecies are considered to occupy different habitats and ecological niches. In the present study, chemical analyzes as well as biochemical and molecular biomarkers were used to investigate the influence of niche partitioning over metabolic pathways associated with the detoxification of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), antioxidant metabolism, immune activity and lipid metabolism in Tursiops truncatus subspecies living in parapatry. Overall, the profile and levels of bioaccumulated PCBs, pesticides and PBDEs were similar between groups, with a greater variety of pesticides, such as γ-HCHs, heptachlor, oxychlordane and o,p\'DDT, detected in T. truncatus gephyreus. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) results indicated that glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymatic activities were higher in coastal dolphins, as were the mRNA levels of metallothionein 2A (MT2A), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), ceramide synthase 3 (CERS3) and fatty acid elongase (ELOVL4). In parallel, mRNA levels of fatty acid synthase complex 1 (FASN 1) were higher in oceanic dolphins. These findings suggest that, due to their occurrence in coastal habitats, T. truncatus gephyreus is more exposed to environmental pollutants and pathogenic microorganisms. Likewise, niche partitioning may influence lipid biosynthesis, possibly due to differences on feeding habits, reflecting in an enhanced long chain ceramides biosynthesis in T. truncatus gephyreus. Collectively, these data reinforce the need to address habitat specificities in conservation efforts, since distinct groups can be facing different anthropogenic pressures in WSA.