OXIDATIVE STRESS MECHANISMS AND ENZYMATIC ADAPTATION IN HYDROCARBON-IMPACTED CASPIAN COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS

Abstract Hydrocarbon extraction and transport activities along the Caspian Sea coastline have generated persistent environmental pressure on marine and coastal ecosystems. Petroleum-derived pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aliphatic compounds, accumulate in sediment and biota, inducing oxidative stress at cellular and organismal levels. Oxidative imbalance disrupts metabolic homeostasis and alters enzymatic regulation in exposed species. This study investigates oxidative stress mechanisms and enzymatic adaptation in hydrocarbon-impacted coastal ecosystems of Azerbaijan. Integrating environmental chemistry, biochemistry, and marine ecology, the research examines biochemical biomarkers indicative of stress response and adaptive modulation. Particular focus is placed on antioxidant enzyme systems and their role in mitigating reactive oxygen species formation. The objective is to elucidate how biochemical resilience mechanisms contribute to organism survival in chronically contaminated marine environments.