CORALLINA SP. AND PATELLA CAERULEA (LINNAEUS, 1758) AS QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS FOR TRACE METALS IN THE TUNISIAN COASTAL WATERS

The concentrations of trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Al, Pb) were measured in two marine organisms of environmental relevance: red algae (Corallina sp.) and mollusk limpet (Patella caerulea Linnaeus, 1758). The samples were collected at two coastal stations located in the north coasts of Tunisia (Bizerta Channel: CB and La Goulette harbour: LG). These areas are influenced by anthropogenic activities (harbour, industrial and urban wastes). Metal concentrations measured in the limpet indicate that the area of Bizerta Channel was the most polluted. We found high variability of metal bioaccumulation among the two species analysed. The order of metal accumulation in the red algae was Al>Fe>Mn>Pb-Cu>Ni>Cr>Cd, while in the limpet the order was Fe>Al>Mn>Cu>Pb-Ni>Cr>Cd