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The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn were measured in holothuroids Holothuria tubulosa collected during different seasons and at several depths in three N W Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica meadows (Calvi, Corsica; Ischia, Italy; Marseille, France). Metals were found to be selectively distributed among the holothuroid body compartments (i.e. body wall, gut, and haemal system). Among the sources of variation taken into account, the major part of the variability observed in metal concentrations was associated to the body compartment factor, then to the seasonal one and, finally, to the geographical and bathymetric factors. Our results suggest that, if one uses H. tubulosa as a bioindicator species for surveying and monitoring metal contamination in the Mediterranean P. oceanica meadows, attention should be paid to compare only concentrations measured in the same body compartments of individuals collected during the same period of the year. Body compartments that should be preferably considered for metal analyses are the haemal system and, secondarily, the gut (i.e. the compartments concentrating metals most efficiently). Due to the peculiar ecological characteristics of H. tubulosa (i.e. a deposit feeder living in close relationships with the sediments), this species could be effectively used to complement the small set of bioindicators available so far for surveying metal contamination in the P. oceanica ecosystem (viz. the phanerogam P. oceanica itself and the grazing echinoid Paracentrotus lividus). © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The Southern Bight of the North Sea is particularly exposed to anthropogenic contamination, due to heavy urbanisation and industrialisation of its catchment area. The present work focuses on polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and metal contamination of the marine environment along and off the Belgian coast. Its objectives were to compare the concentrations of seven PCB congeners and four heavy metals in the sediments (a repository for anthropogenic contaminants) and in the asteroid Asterias rubens (a recognized bioindicator species). Nineteen sampling stations were considered between the mouth of the Scheldt Estuary and the southern limit of the Belgian coast (asteroids were found in 10 out of the 19 stations). PCB and metal concentrations measured in sediments and asteroids were in the range of values reported in previous studies. Stations under direct influence of the Scheldt were the most impacted by the considered contaminants. Metal concentrations varied according to the grain-size fraction considered. In asteroids, PCBs and metals were found to be selectively distributed among body compartments, and pyloric caeca were found to most efficiently discriminate between sampling stations contamination levels. PCB and metal analysis of sediments provided a physicochemical evaluation of the contamination, whereas analysis of asteroids introduced a biological dimension to the approach by taking into account bioavailability of the contaminants., Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

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0, Scientific Support Plan for a Sustainable Development Policy (SPSD I): Programme., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished