An examination of the effects of copper in the polychaete Hediste diversicolor; focusing on how the effects of copper detected at the molecular level manifest at higher levels of biological organisation

"Resilience of many ecosystems is likely to be exceeded this century by a combination of climate change and pollution impacts among other drivers" (Lawrence 2009).Copper, although it is an essential metal it can also be extremely harmful to aquatic, marine and estuarine organisms. But do the effects of copper detected at the molecular level manifest at higher levels of biological organisation? The test organism Hediste diversicolor was exposed to varying concentrations of copper chloride. Semi quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect changes in the mRNA gene regulation of acetylcholinesterase in response to copper exposure. These results were then compared to changes in the rate of burrowing in copper exposed Hediste diversicolor. The results of the study showed that at higher concentrations of copper, acetylcholinesterase mRNA was down regulated, while acclimatized worms were faster to burrow. However while a correlation between acetylcholinesterase and burrowing seems to exist further work with regards to quantitatively measuring mRNA regulation, actual tissue concentrations of copper uptake and enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase needs to be performed. There is also a need for further investigations into the burrowing behaviour of the worms due to a number of apparently confounding variables detected in the present study