Environmental status of the NE Adriatic Sea, Istria, Croatia: Insights from mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis condition indices, stable isotopes and metal(loid)s

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2018-01, Vol.126, p.525-534
• Main Authors: Kanduč, Tjaša, Šlejkovec, Zdenka, Falnoga, Ingrid, Mori, Nataša, Budič, Bojan, Kovačić, Ines, Pavičić – Hamer, Dijana, Hamer, Bojan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Aquaculture; Arsenic - analysis; As speciation; Bioindicators; Cadmium; Chemical analysis; Condition indices; Copper; Croatia; Environmental Monitoring; Heavy metals; Indicator organisms; Indicator species; Isotopes; Lead; Manganese; Marine aquaculture; Marine environment; Marine molluscs; Marine pollution; Metal(loid)s; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Mollusks; Mussels; Mytilus; Mytilus galloprovincialis; NE Adriatic Sea; Nickel; Nitrogen Isotopes; Pollution; Ports; Seawater; Selenium; Sewage; Sewage sludge; Sludge; Stable isotopes; Studies; Tissue; Water analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Zinc
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.09.052

The environmental status of the marine environment in the NE Adriatic Sea was assessed, using as a bioindicator species the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819. Samples were collected seasonally from mariculture sites and from major Istrian ports between the years 2010 and 2013. The condition indices of mussels ranged from 13.3 to 20.9% at mariculture sites and from 14.3 to 23.3% at port locations. The seasonally δ13CDIC values of seawater varied between −10.9 to 0.7‰. Pollution by sewage sludge (based on δ15N values) was confirmed only in two ports. Tissue concentrations of Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd, and Pb were significantly higher in the tissue of the mussels collected from the ports (polluted sites). Arsenobetaine was the major As compound present in the samples and there was no significant difference in the levels of total As in mussel tissues from mariculture and port sites. •M. galloprovincialis was used to evaluate environmental status from NE Adriatic.•Samples were taken seasonally from mariculture and port locations.•Condition indexes, stable isotopes, selected elements, As species were measured.•Results of stable isotopes revealed no sewage sludge pollution.•We obtained higher concentrations of Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd, Pb from port locations.