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Benthic organisms as ecological indicators for the status assessment of coastal ecosystems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2017

D. Komar ,
M. Dolenec ,
T. Dolenec ,
P. Vrhovnik ,
S. Lojen ,
G. Kniewald ,
S.S. Matešić ,
Ž. Lambaša Belak  and
M. Orlando-Bonaca
D. Komar*
Affiliation:
Geoexp, d. o. o., Company for Scientific Research and Developement in the Field of Geology, Geochemistry and Environmental Protection, Slap 21, 4290 Tržič, Slovenia ARGE Geopark Karawanken, Hauptplatz 7, 9135 Bad Eisenkappel, Austria
M. Dolenec
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 12, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
T. Dolenec
Affiliation:
Geoexp, d. o. o., Company for Scientific Research and Developement in the Field of Geology, Geochemistry and Environmental Protection, Slap 21, 4290 Tržič, Slovenia
P. Vrhovnik
Affiliation:
Geoexp, d. o. o., Company for Scientific Research and Developement in the Field of Geology, Geochemistry and Environmental Protection, Slap 21, 4290 Tržič, Slovenia Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Dimičeva ulica 12, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
S. Lojen
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
G. Kniewald
Affiliation:
Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
S.S. Matešić
Affiliation:
Department of Environment and Municipal Affairs, Trg Pavla Šubica I no. 2, 22000 Šibenik, Croatia
Ž. Lambaša Belak
Affiliation:
Department of Environment and Municipal Affairs, Trg Pavla Šubica I no. 2, 22000 Šibenik, Croatia
M. Orlando-Bonaca
Affiliation:
Marine Biology Station Piran, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, 6330 Piran, Slovenia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: D. Komar, Geoexp, d. o. o., Company for Scientific Research and Development in the Field of Geology, Geochemistry and Environmental Protection, Slap 21, 4290 Tržič, Slovenia Email: komar.darja@gmail.com, darja.komar@geopark.si
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Abstract

The presence of potentially toxic elements (PTE) was determined in different tissues of five selected marine organisms. The As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations were measured in the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa, the green alga Cladophora echinus, the red alga Gelidiella lubrica, the marine topshell Phorcus turbinatus and the littoral crab Carcinus aestuarii, as well as in seawater from Makirina Bay. The levels of As, Cd, Cu, Mn and Zn in the biota were found to exceed those in previously analysed sediments, indicating the bioaccumulation of these PTE. The biota-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) and concentration factor (CF) varied among different organisms. As regards the five selected species, C. nodosa, C. echinus and G. lubrica proved to be the strongest accumulators of Mn, while P. turbinatus and C. aestuarii showed a high capacity to accumulate As, Cd, Cu and Zn. These species can be considered as good ecological indicators in the assessment of PTE pollution in marine littoral environments.

Keywords

Bioaccumulationpotentially toxic elements (PTE)coastal environmentenvironmental healthbiota-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF)contamination factor (CF)benthic organismsstable isotopes (δ15N)
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 98 , Special Issue 8: Special Section: European Marine Biology Symposium Papers 2018 , December 2018 , pp. 1907 - 1917
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2017 

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