Charting a path towards non-destructive biomarkers in threatened wildlife: A systematic quantitative literature review. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chaousis, Stephanie; Leusch, Frederic D.L.; van de Merwe, Jason P.
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 234(2018)
• Page Start: 59
• Page End: 70
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Contaminant -- Biomarker -- Non-destructive -- Wildlife -- In vitro; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Threatened species are susceptible to irreversible population decline caused by adverse sub-lethal effects of chemical contaminant exposure. It is therefore vital to develop the necessary tools to predict and detect these effects as early as possible. Biomarkers of contaminant exposure and effect are widely applied to this end, and a significant amount of research has focused on development and validation of sensitive and diagnostic biomarkers. However, progress in the use biomarkers that can be measured using non-destructive techniques has been relatively slow and there are still many difficulties to overcome in the development of sound methods. This paper systematically quantifies and reviews studies that have aimed to develop or validate non-destructive biomarkers in wildlife, and provides an analysis of the successes of these methods based on the invasiveness of the methods, the potential for universal application, cost, and the potential for new biomarker discovery. These data are then used to infer what methods and approaches appear the most effective for successful development of non-destructive biomarkers of contaminant exposure in wildlife. This review highlights that research on non-destructive biomarkers in wildlife is severely lacking, and suggests further exploration of in vitro methods in future studies. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Threatened wildlife are vulnerable to adverse effects of contaminant exposure. Non-destructive biomarkers are valuable tools to detect sublethal exposure effects. Studies of non-destructive biomarker discovery in wildlife are limited in their success. In vitro techniques may bypass the limitations of traditional methods in this field. The development and use of wildlife cell lines should be a focus of future research. Abstract : Studies on non-destructive biomarker discovery in threatened wildlife are limited. Presently the use of cell lines is minimal in this context but presents a promising tool to enhance currently used methods.