Temporal and spatial biomonitoring of heavy metals in Eastern Aegean coastal waters using Amphibalanus amphitrite

This biomonitoring study presents the spatial and temporal variations of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe) in the soft tissues of Amphibalanus amphitrite collected from different sites along the eastern Aegean coast. A. amphitrite has been chosen as a strong candidate for monitoring heavy metals. Sediment and seawater samples were collected to detect their metal contents to gain more information on the environmental conditions and possible bioaccumulation patterns. ANCOVA was used to show possible temporal and spatial differences in the bioavailabilities of heavy metals to barnacles. And the relationships of metal concentrations in the soft tissues of barnacles were also compared as a function of barnacle size. The physico-chemical characteristics have been measured in order to characterize the sampling area.The accumulation order of mean metal concentrations in barnacles showed that barnacles accumulate Cu in a higher degree than both sediment and seawater. The highest mean values of Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn were obtained from Kusadasi-Setur Marina and Izmir-Pasaport where recreational boats are densely located and the use of metal-based antifouling paints are high. There was a significant negative relationship between concentrations of Hg, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn and soft tissue dry weight of barnacles. According to concentration factor, A. amphitrite has ability to accumulate metals several times more than seawater and sediments. It is concluded that barnacles proved to be a good choice to be used as a bioindicator because of their strong accumulation capacity for many trace metals.