MARINE POLLUTION CAUSED BY THE HERBICIDE GLYPHOSATE AND ITS IMPACTS ON THE METABOLISM OF BUNODOSOMA ZAMPONII

• Grant number: 25/10678-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 09, 2025
• End date: January 08, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Physiology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Sérgio Nascimento Stampar
• Grantee: Gabriel Guedes Pereira
• Supervisor: Maria Soledad Michiels
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Argentina
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/03700-8 - Analysis of the effect of exposure to the herbicide glyphosate on the symbiotic relationship in cnidarians, BP.IC

Abstract

The increasing use of nutrients and pesticides in agriculture to meet the growing food demand has serious consequences for the oceans. Pollution from agrochemicals is one of the most devastating for aquatic ecosystems, especially in reefs near river mouths, which are vulnerable to pollution from sediments and agrochemicals after rainfall. In this context, glyphosate, a widely used systemic and non-selective herbicide that accounts for 60% of the global herbicide market, is raising growing concerns as its residues have been detected in various aquatic environments and even in the atmosphere. Cnidarians play a fundamental role in marine ecosystems, forming vast reefs and sustaining entire ecosystems; however, this function is being disrupted by marine pollution, which is why these organisms are often used as biomonitors due to their diversity and ecological importance. Understanding the metabolism of these organisms is crucial for assessing the impacts of chemical pollution. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) and aminopeptidase-N (APN) are essential enzymes for metabolic processes in cnidarians. Analyzing the energy reserves of triglycerides, glycogen, and proteins also provides insights into the food availability for these animals in the marine environment. Therefore, the objective of the presented study is to investigate the effects of glyphosate exposure on the metabolism of Bunodosoma zamponii, analyzing changes in the activity of CA and APN, as well as in the reserves of triglycerides, glycogen, and proteins. (AU)