Volume 15, Issue 4 (1-2026)
J. Aqua. Eco 2026, 15(4): 7-19 |
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Seyed Mousavi S R, Sadeghi P. Evaluation of Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation in sediments and Ghost Crab (Ocypode rotundata) of the Oman Sea Coast. J. Aqua. Eco 2026; 15 (4) :7-19
URL: http://jae.hormozgan.ac.ir/article-1-1160-en.html
URL: http://jae.hormozgan.ac.ir/article-1-1160-en.html
Abstract: (9 Views)
Heavy metals in aquatic environments are non-biodegradable and, due to their persistence and accumulation in the food chain, have become an increasing concern for aquatic organisms, including crustaceans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioaccumulation of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni) in the soft tissues of the ghost crab (Ocypode rotundata) and in sediments from sandy shores of Chabahar Bay and the Oman Sea, and to compare the measured concentrations with international standards. Samples were collected from three stations: the Konarak Desalination Plant, Crab Island, and the beach adjacent to the Martian Mountains tourism complex. Following chemical digestion, heavy metal concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy and expressed as micrograms per gram of dry weight. The pattern of heavy metal accumulation in the soft tissues of the ghost crab was recorded as Cu > Ni > Zn, and statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the mean metal concentrations among the sampling stations. The concentrations of zinc and copper in crab soft tissues at all stations were below the recommended standard limits, whereas nickel concentrations exceeded the permissible limits established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The minimum and maximum concentrations of metals in sediment samples (μg/g dry weight) were 2.13–16.21 for zinc, 1.16–3.16 for copper, and 38.4–54.6 for nickel. Zinc and copper concentrations in sediments were below the sediment quality guidelines of the United States (NOAA) and Canada (CCME), while nickel concentrations exceeded these standards. These findings highlight the need for increased attention to environmental management and stricter control of pollution sources entering Chabahar Bay and the Oman Sea.
Keywords: Ocypode rotundata, Sediment quality standards, Heavy metals, Marine pollution monitoring, Chabahar Bay.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons — Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)