Biological Indices and Monitoring of Trace Metals in the Mussel from the Southwestern Mediterranean (Algeria): Seasonal and Geographical Variations

• Published in: Thalassas : revista de ciencias del mar 2018-04, Vol.34 (1), p.103-112
• Main Authors: Guendouzi, Yassine, Soualili, Dina Lila, Boulahdid, Mostefa, Boudjellal, Benyahia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption spectroscopy; Annual variations; Atomic absorption analysis; Atomic absorption spectroscopy; Autumn; Bioaccumulation; Biometrics; Biomonitoring; Coastal Sciences; Contamination; Copper; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Fish & Wildlife Biology & Management; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Geographical variations; Heavy metals; Lead; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Marine molluscs; Metal concentrations; Metals; Mollusks; Mussels; Oceanography; Physiology; Sampling; Seasonal variation; Seasonal variations; Sediment; Sediments; Spectral analysis; Spectrometry; Summer; Trace metals; Zinc
• ISSN: 0212-5919; 2366-1674
• DOI: 10.1007/s41208-017-0043-0

This study aims to evaluate the quality of coastal Southwestern Mediterranean: sea of Algeria. The study consist on a monitoring seasonal changes in biological indices (biometric and physiological) and observing the bioaccumulation of trace metals (Pb, Cu and Zn) in the flesh of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819). The availability of trace metals in the sediment was determined annually, when the disturbance of the environment was minimal. Exception of the sediment which has a single summer sampling, the sampling of batch of thirty (30) individuals of mussels was collected at each site “Sidi Mejdoub” and “Willis” (Mostaganem: western region) and “Bateau cassé” (Algiers: center region), seasonally: November 2013 (autumn), February 2014 (winter), May 2014 (spring) and August 2014 (summer). The concentration of these metals has been determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The contamination index of sediments show that does not present high levels of metals in sediment, the trace metals studies in the site of “Willis” is more available than the other sites. The seasonal changes of the biometric and physiological indices on the mussel shows good growth of these species in “bateau cassé”, unlike the other samples taken from the two other sites. The levels of trace metals reveals that the level of copper and zinc is in the references. However, all the analyzed mussels are contaminated by lead: (Concentrations twice higher than the recommended limit).