Multi-variate analysis of biomarker responses in Mytilus edulis and Carcinus maenas from the Tees Estuary (UK)

A suite of six biomarkers was measured in shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) and mussels (Mytilus edulis) deployed at, or native to, the Tees Estuary in no rth-east England, as well as at several control sites. LC-50 tests on water samples from the field sites were carried out using the marine copepod Tis be battagliai and Microtox assays. Biomarker responses varied among the sit es. Results were analysed using novel multivariate statistical procedures. A clearer overall picture was obtained from multi-dimensional scaling plots than by examining the data for different biomarkers individually. It was p ossible to distinguish among contaminated and control sites, with the conta minated sites being further differentiated to reflect a pollution gradient. It was concluded that multi-dimensional scaling procedures are a valuable additional tool for improving the analysis and interpretation of complex su ites of biomarker data, (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.