Oxidative stress responses of the giant clam (Tridacna maxima (Röding, 1798)) to seasonal variations and contaminations on the Red Sea Coast of Egypt

Document Type : Regular Articles

Authors

1 Zoology, Science, Sohag

2 Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt

3 National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Red Sea Branch, Egypt

10.21608/sjsci.2025.398959.1285

Abstract

 The present study investigated the combined effects of seasonal fluctuations and site-specific contamination along the Egyptian Red Sea Coast using the giant clam Tridacna maxima as a biomonitoring tool for oxidative stress. Biomarkers analyzed included malondialdehyde (MDA) as an indicator of lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione-Stransferase (GST), measured from clam muscle tissues. Specimens were collected from three sites—National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Magawish Village, and Al-Hamrawin Harbor—during four seasons (Spring, Summer and Autumn; 2021, and Winter; 2022). Statistical analysis revealed highly significant effects of season, site, and their interaction on all biomarkers (LPO: p < 0.001 for season; p < 0.001 for site; p < 0.001 for interaction; SOD: p < 0.001 for season; p = 0.002 for site; p < 0.001 for interaction; GST: p < 0.001 for season; p < 0.001 for site; p < 0.001 for interaction). Post hoc comparisons confirmed that biomarker responses varied significantly across seasons and among sites, with Al-Hamrawin Harbor showing the highest stress responses, reflecting strong contamination influence, while Magawish and NIOF showed relatively moderate levels. These results demonstrate that T. maxima exhibits clear oxidative stress responses to both climatic variability and anthropogenic contamination, underscoring its value as a sensitive bioindicator for environmental monitoring of the Red Sea ecosystem. 

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