Oxidative responses of macro-invertebrates in relation to environmental variables in rivers of East Kalimantan, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

The condition of river water quality can be considered as a potential source of oxidative stress of river organisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in three genera of aquatic insects namely Chrironominae, Gomphus and Lestes collected from Karang Mumus River, Pampang River, and Nabah River of East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Aquatic insects were collected using Ekman-Grab, Surber net and Kick net. Determinations of SOD, CAT and MDA were conducted in all aquatic insect samples. Physical-chemical parameters of environmental quality were also measured in all rivers. Visual observation showed that the turbidities of water were in the order: Karang Mumus River>Pampang River> Nabah River. The highest SOD, CAT and MDA were recorded in Chironominae and Gomphus live in the Karang Mumus River, and the lowest recorded in Nabah River. The SOD and CAT activities in Lestes were not significantly different in all rivers, however Lestes in Nabah showed the highest MDA. The oxidative responses of Chironominae and Gomphus most likely affected by the water turbidity. Meanwhile, the high level of MDA in Lestes most probably related to the metals’ levels both in sediment and water.

KEYWORDS:

• Antioxidant enzyme
• water quality
• oxidative stress
• aquatic insect
• river
• East Kalimantan

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education for providing the scholarship to the first author. The laboratory and technical assistances of Dr. Sri Puji Astuti and Mr. S. Setianto are gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Fatmawati Patang received her Ph. D degree from Universitas Airlangga Indonesia and is currently working at the University of Mulawarman, Samarinda Indonesia as an associate professor. Her research interest is fresh water ecology.

Agoes Soegianto received his Ph. D degree from Universite Aix-Marseille III France and is currently working at Universitas Airlangga Indonesia as a professor. His research interest is adaptation of aquatic animals in relation to environmental changes.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded, in part, by the Research Mandate of Universitas Airlangga, grant number (314/UN3.14/LT).