Application of ecotoxicological tools to evaluate the quality status of mangroves under restoration in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico

Ecotoxicological tools, namely biomarkers and bioassays, may provide insights on the ecological quality status of mangroves under restoration. We investigated how 1) physicochemical parameters and water bioassays using Artemia franciscana; and 2) quantification of sublethal (osmoregulatory capacity, biochemical, and oxidative stress) and individual biomarkers (density, length-weight relationship [LWR], parasitic prevalence) in the sentinel fiddler crab Minuca rapax, can improve restoration indicators in mangroves from the Yucatán Peninsula, Southern Gulf of Mexico. We showed that water quality was improved with restoration, but still presented toxicity. Regarding sublethal biomarkers, M rapax from restored areas lower osmotic regulatory capacity, higher oxidative stress, and showed lipid peroxidation. As to the individual biomarkers, the density, LWR, and the prevalence of parasites in M. rapax was higher in restored areas. The use of bioassays/biomarkers were useful as early warning indicators to better assess the health of mangroves under restoration. [Display omitted] •Restored sites have better physicochemical parameters than degraded sites.•Restored sites still present toxicity in the surface water.•Antioxidant enzyme activities were more induced in degraded than in restored sites.•Parasitic fauna was more diverse in restored than in degraded sites.•Despite restoration the general health of the organisms is still compromised.