Evaluation of Cladophora laetevirens (Chlorophyta) and Patella caerulea (Mollusca) as bioindicators for heavy metals Pollution at Al-Hanyaa Mediterranean Coast, Libya.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University-Egypt. Current address: Botany Department, Faculty of Education (Al-Qubba), Omar Al-Mukhtar University,

2 Zoology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Al – Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the new record seaweed Cladophora
laetevirens (Dillwyn) Kützing (Chlorophyta: Cladophorales) and Patella caerulea
Linnaeus (Mollusca: Gastropoda) as bioaccumulating agents. The samples of two
species were collected from polluted and unpolluted (reference) sites from the rocky
shores of Al-Hanyaa coasts, Libya. Zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and copper
(Cu) were determined using voltammetric technique. The results exhibited that, Cu
occupied the highest level (559.15 ± 68.55 μg g-1 fresh weights) among metals
accumulated by Cl. laetevirens in polluted site, followed by Pb and vice versa in
unpolluted site, where Pb attained 179.71 ± 31.19 μg g-1 fresh weight. Despite that Cd
has minimal concentration levels (either in Cl. laetevirens or P. caerulea tissues, at
both sites), it recorded maximal bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for Cl. laetevirens in
both sites. Metal pollution index (MPI) recorded in a descending order as: Cl.
laetevirens > P. caerulea gut > P. caerulea muscle for both sites. Cadmium was
positively correlated with Cu and Pb in both sites. The present data and their analysis
proved the consistency, appropriateness, tolerance and reliability of Cl. laetevirens as
a bioindicator regardless the metal concentration levels in seawater. These results
confirmed that Cl. laetevirens is the strongest accumulator for Cu, Pb and Cd while P.
caerulea is a potential accumulator for Zn.

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Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
Volume 19, Issue 1
January 2015
Pages 55-63

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