Howard CLWhitt KRReeves MRoach RWSociety of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry PU2010-02-152010-02-151992 199http://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/23062-AbstractsContaminant-specific stress proteins (CSSPs) have been identified in estuarine organisms as biomarkers of pollutant exposure, and the biological role of these proteins is being investigated. This study compared CSSP induction among grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, collected from 20 sites in Galveston and Matagorda Bays, TX that varied in the type and degree of sediment contamination. CSSPs were identified and quantified in three test groups of shrimp: (1) collected directly from the field, (2) exposed to 96-hr cadmium challenge assays, and (3) lab-acclimated assay controls. Grass shrimp collected from contaminated sites exhibited higher survival rates in the cadmium challenge tests than shrimp collected from cleaner sites. These shrimp also demonstrated higher levels of CSSPs and a greater induction capacity under cadmium stress. There is evidence that CSSP induction is positively correlated with ambient pollution toleranceASW,USA,Texas,Galveston BayBaysbiologicalBiological stressBiomarkersCadmiumContaminationDaggerblade grass shrimpEnvironmental protectionestuarine organismsExposure tolerancePalaemonetes pugioPollutionPollution controlpollution effectspollution toleranceProteinsQ1 01281 GeneralQ5 01504 Effects on organismsSedimentSediment ContaminationShrimp fisheriesStressSurvivalToleranceToxicityToxicologyUSACONF