1 Heavy Metals contamination in two bioluminescent bays of Puerto Rico

Recent studies show that two important Bioluminesce Bays in Puerto Rico, La Parguera Bioluminescence Bay in Lajas and Puerto Mosquito Bay in Vieques have differences in the characteristic of bioluminescent. The presence of arsenic, copper, iron, lead and mercury can affect the Pyrodinium bahamense that lives in these bays with certain characteristics. The main purpose of this research was to evaluate the presence of heavy metals in these respectively bays. Samples were collected from four different environments in the selected bays, they were: sediments closed to the mangroves, mangroves leaves, sediments from the bottom and water column. This study indicates that the concentration of iron and copper in the two bioluminescent bays was high, arsenic, lead and mercury in most of the cases are Below Detection Limits (BDL). Iron and copper are important part of Pyrodinium bahamense growth because they are essential micronutrients for the formation of microorganism phytoplankton that the dinoflagellates consume