Seagrass meadows serve as buffers for metal concentrations in the fish species Sparisoma cretense in the Canary Islands (Atlantic EC, Spain)

Abstract

The escalation of marine pollution caused by heavy metals has emerged as a burgeoning global concern, drawing substantial attention due to its detrimental effects on both biodiversity and public health. This research project, conducted in the vicinity of two Canary Islands (Tenerife and Gran Canaria), was designed to evaluate the presence of metal pollutants in Sparisoma cretense, a fish species of considerable commercial significance. The investigation encompassed two distinct ecological settings: rocky terrains and seagrass meadows. To assess metal concentrations, a total of six metals (Aluminum, Cadmium, Copper, Iron, Lead, and Zinc) were scrutinized. This was achieved through the incineration of collected samples in a controlled environment using a muffle furnace, followed by the determination of metal levels using optical emission spectrophotometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-OES). The outcomes of the study brought to light noteworthy disparities between the two islands, as well as within the rocky areas and seagrass meadows themselves. Particularly, higher concentrations of metals were identified in specimens originating from the rocky areas. Conversely, specimens hailing from the seagrass meadows exhibited lower instances of metal contamination.