Copper, cadmium and iron in marine organisms in a eutrophic estuarine area (Amvrakikos gulf, Ionian sea, Greece)

Abstract

Four species of fish (Liza aurata, Mugil cephalus, Mullus barbatus and Sardina pilchardus), four species of benthic organisms (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Murex trunculus, Paracentrotus lividus and Penaeus kerathurus) and one seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa), taken from the estuarine area of Amvrakikos Gulf, presenting eutrophication problems due to the intensive agricultural activities, are examined in the present study. The distribution of the examined heavy metals in some species from the Amvrakikos Gulf shows that the concentrations observed range into the upper limits of those mentioned in the literature for the Mediterranean. Concerning the behaviour of the examined heavy metals in the food webs, high concentrations are observed in the benthic predator M. trunculus, the filter feeder M. galloprovincialis, the grazing herbivore P. lividus and the primary producer Cymodocea nodosa, while in the examined fish the concentrations are at the lower limits of the distribution range and approximately the same although their trophic status is different.