Evaluation of Some Marine Animals as Bio-indicators of Metal Pollution in the Red Sea at Jeddah and Yanbu, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

摘要

The present study investigated the metal pollution bio-indicators in red sea marine organisms at six sites at Jeddah and Yanbu coastal area. Tow fish species [Siganus canaliculatus and Epinephelis morio), one crustacean species (Panulirus homarus) andone mollusca species (Donax trunculus) were used to monitor the bio-indicators of Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb and As pollution in the Red Sea water. The concentration of Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb and As were determined in water, sediment, fish tissues (skin, gills, liver and muscle) and muscular tissue of Panulirus homarus and Donax trunculus. The results indicated that, the concentrations of the studied metals were high in water, sediment and marine animal's tissues that were collected from Jeddah coastal areas. The highestconcentration of metals was in the muscle tissue of mollusca, crustacean and finally fish species. The animal tissue metal levels were dependent on their water and sediment levels. The present study concluded that, significant spatial variations in metalcontents among species and between tissues of each species were observed. These variations might be due to variation of species, location, and feeding habits. The study also shows that, molluscs are the best bio-indicators for metal pollution, then crustacean and finally fish species.