Evaluación del erizo de mar Echinometra lucunter como indicador de contaminación por metales pesados, Cuba

Abstract

Between March 1986 and June 1987 content of iron, zinc and manganese were studied in hard parts and iron, copper, zinc and mercury in gonads of the sea urchin Echinometra lucunter, collected from sites of the rocky littoral of Havana with different levels of pollution by heavy metals. Seasonal variations were found; the processing of results by analysis of variance and cluster analysis, showed differences between the sites studied that permit us to consider that this organism is able to indicate pollution by iron and mercury in its gonads and pollution by the three metals studied in its hard parts. © 1990 IFREMER-Gauthier-Villars.