Evaluation of enzyme biomarkers in freshwater invertebrates from Taro and Ticino river, Italy

Freshwater invertebrates are commonly used in biological monitoring, but research of biomarkers at biochemical level is still at the early stage of development. Biomarkers in aquatic species are regarded as important for detecting stressor components, such as presence of pollutants and changes in environmental factors (temperature, pH, oxygen content, etc.). Hyne and Maher (2003) reviewed the application of biochemical measurements in invertebrates as a supplementary tool to predict changes in natural populations of aquatic invertebrates. They highlighted the lack of knowledge on the linkages between biochemical biomarker variations and macroinvertebrate population response.