Hard Coral Tissue as Pollutant Indicator for Heavy Metals at Northern Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt

摘要

The total organic matter (TOM) in corals is higher than in the sediment. The highest mean of TOM content of the corals A. humilis and S. pistillata was recorded in summer (7.04% and 5.27% respectively) while in the sediment it was low (3.15%) in the same season. The heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Ni, Cd and Pb) were measured in A. humilis, S. pistillata and the underlying sediments. However, A. humilis and S. pistillata have the great ability to concentrate Ni more than the sediment. The main reasons for the Ni increase are the anthropogenic impacts from boat mooring, desalination plants and anti-fouling paints. Cd has a great tendency to accumulate in the coral tissue and it reached to the maximum normal limit in A. humilis during autumn. Iron, copper and lead contents in both coral species show sub-equal values and in the range recorded by the other investigators in other localities. The increase of TOM in corals than sediment may cause in increase of Ni, Cu, and Pb in corals with a higher concentration than the underlying sediment.