The present study relates the level of pollution in the coastal water to the physiology of the bivalve Pinctada radiata. Four localities of the Mediterranean Sea, Alexandria, Egypt were chosen for this study (El Asafra, Sidi Beshr, Kait Bay and El Dekhela). Specimens were collected during September to November 2009. Water analysis of selected heavy metals (iron, copper, lead and cadmium) showed many attributes of the water quality criteria which was below the admissible levels of USEPA. The highest concentration of iron was found in El Dekhela, while that of copper, lead and cadmium was found in Sidi Beshr. Results also revealed fluctuations in the measured biochemical parameters (glucose, triglycerides, creatinine, uric acid and total proteins) in the haemolymph of the oyster. The lowest concentration of glucose in the haemolymph was found in specimens collected from El-Asafra, while that of triglycerides and uric acid was reported in El Dekhela. Kait Bay specimens were found to have the highest level of creatinine, while the maximum level of total proteins was reported in El Dekhela. It was thus concluded that the biochemical parameters in the Pinctada radiata were affected by the low levels of heavy metals in the different localities under investigation of the Mediterranean coastal areas, Alexandria-Egypt.
Key words: Bivalve, Pinctada radiate, Heavy metals, Biochemical parameters, Egypt, Alexandria, Mediterranean coast
|
