ИСТИНА

The main purpose of this work is estimation sublethal effects of individuals and mixture heavy metals at different levels of biological organization on the White Sea starfish Asterias rubens L. Methods:At cellular level were estimated coelomic cells in exposure experiments in vitro and in vivo. Coelomocyte primary cell cultures was used to analyzed enzyme activity by photometric methods (NNR-assay) and gene expression by real-time PCR. At organism level were estimated starfish survival and behavior reaction in exposure experiments as well as metal bioconcentration and bioaccumulation in the all body without dissection. At population level were estimated size structure and abundance in points with heavy metals concentration differences. At community level was estimated association symbiotic fauna in different points also. Some of results: Studied area near White Sea Biological Station of Lomonosov MSU characterized by gradient of metal pollution especially iron contamination. Metal bioaccumulation in starfish was not related to the level of contamination of the environment for all investigated metals Metals can be divided into two groups accumulated in the starfish body (Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg), and does not accumulated (Mg, Fe, Ni, Pb). Two starfish color type was investigated that influence on bioaccumulation. Micronuclei induction related to the level of environment concentration of Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb. Heavy metal bioaccumulation and bioconcentration were compared. Bioconcentration has been observed for all investigated metals, except iron. Experiments showed that Cd and Pb can efficiently bioconcentrate and related to the metal concentration in water. Exposure experiments showed starfish high resistance to heavy metals, the most toxic to the starfish appeared copper. The symbiotic association of starfishes Asterias rubens and copepods Scottomyzon gibberum Scott even in small areas have differences in the populations that may be associated with both the levels of anthropogenic load, and the features of biotopes. The increased number of copepods thus leads to the activation of immune processes with the increase in cell number in the coelomic fluid of the starfish in the most populated areas. At the same time, these processes may greatly be affected by both the natural features of biotopes (salinity, depth, current speed and the type of biotope) and the anthropogenic factor (heavy metals).