Seasonal Changes in Gonad Index, Biochemical Composition and Heavy Metal Determination of Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus Gonads from the South Coast of Morocco

Use of the gonadal tissue of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus as a target for environmental contamination by trace metals

“…Ouchene et al ( 2021 ) developed a study similar to ours, in which seasonal variations in the gonadal index (GI), biochemical composition, and concentration of trace metals in P. lividus gonads were determined. The organisms were collected from three sites in the Agadir region: Cap Ghir, Sidi R’bat, and Anza (southern coast of Morocco) between March 2018 and February 2020.…”

“…This sensitivity is manifested by disparities in the reproductive cycle, decline in fertility, and developmental disorders (Auernheimer and Chinchon, 1997 ; Savriama et al, 2015 ). These disorders affect the growth and physiology of these echinoderms; thus, changes in biometric parameters and biological indices in this species are integrated indicators that may reflect the effects of pollution and environmental quality of a given area, especially those exposed during the development of these animals (Warnau et al, 1997 ; Chiarelli and Roccheri, 2014 ; Ouchene et al 2021 ).…”

“…The monitoring of the metal contents in P. lividus gonads showed temporal and spatial variations according to each one of the metals analyzed. These variations may be closely associated with the availability of metals in the environment, the physiological changes on the echinoderms and the environmental disturbances related to the quality of the environment in both sampling stations (Filipuci 2011 ; Rouane-Hacene et al 2018 ; De Zoysa et al 2018 ; Ouchene et al 2021 ). Due to their predominantly herbivorous feeding habits, sea urchins can absorb metals dissolved in seawater, metals contained in the diet — especially algae — and presumably also metals bound to particles which are ingested.…”

“…Some studies have investigated spatial variations in element concentrations near sources of anthropogenic pollution in P. lividus and other sea urchin species such as Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis and Lytechinus variegatus . In these studies, high concentrations of several elements were observed near polluting sources, and these species were proposed as biomonitors for several elements, like for instance Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb (Scanu et al 2015 ; Alves et al 2018 ; Rouane-Hacene et al 2018 ; Ternengo et al 2018 ; Søndergaard et al 2019 ; Ouchene et al 2021 ).…”

“…This possible increase in Pb concentration may be associated with increased precipitation. Contamination can be direct by atmospheric deposition and indirect by leaching that occurs on roads caused by rainwater (Ouchene et al 2021 ).…”