The echinoids arbacia lixula and paracentrotus lividus as indicators of heavy metal levels in the Mediterranean environment

An investigation was carried out on the potential suitability of selected marine invertebrates, especially the echinoids Arbacia lixula and Paracentrotus 1ividus and the gastropod Patella coerulea as indicators of the abundance of some Heavy Metals in the coastal Mediterranean environment, with particular emphasis on their use in large scale monitoring with the collaboration of unskilled personnel. Samples were collected from 32 individually described sites around the Tyrrhenian Basin, and analyzed for Heavy Metal content. A Microwave digestion technique was experimented with, but found unsuitable. The analytical results are plotted, compared with other values appearing in the literature, and subjected to statistical correlation analysis with the described environmental and demographic data collected throughout the survey. No statistically and conceptually significant correlation is found between Heavy Metaland any of the environmental variables, though some significant intermetal1ic correlations are found and discussed. A significant correlation between a described composite fauno-floristic index and environmental and demographic variables is found and its implications towards an alternative monitoring technique are discussed.