Efficiency of Polychaete Nereis (Neanthes) Succinea as Biomonitor for Heavy Metals Pollution in the Red Sea, Egypt

Polychaetes nereids groups are the most common in shallow marine habitats and abundant in benthic communities. This group was proved to tolerate a high burden of heavy metals within their tissues. The current work assesses the effect of water criteria; sea water temperature, hydrogen ion concentration (pH), dissolved oxygen concentration, turbidity, conductivity and salinity on the uptake and storage of four heavy metals; Mn,, Pb, Cd and Cu in tissues of the marine polychaete worm Nereis succinea collected from two sites at Hurghada, Red sea; the Marine Biological Station (MBS) and the Fishing Port at Sakala (FPS). Bioaccumulation Factors (BAFs) were determined to evaluate the capability of the investigated annelid worm to accumulate heavy metals, so as to be used as sentinel species for monitoring metal pollutants. Population density of the investigated polychaete was determined at both studied sites as related to water criteria. ANOVA statistical analysis has indicated significant higher concentration of Mn, Pb, Cd and Cu in water at FBS than MBS (P<0.01) and high tissue concentration of Mn, Cd, Pb and Cu at individuals collected from FBS (P<0.01). The highest value of annual mean of BAF at Nereis tissues were recorded for Cu (1023.09±816.55), while the lowest BAF was for Pb (162.97±118.03). Polychaete abundance was significantly higher at MBS. Significant effect was found for water criteria on metal bioaccumulation and population density of Nereis. Data were discussed to evaluate the sensitivity of N. succinea to heavy metal pollutants and its possible use as biological monitor for metal contaminants at marine habitats.