Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Βιολογική ΩκεανογραφίαLibrary of the School of Science
Supervisors info:
Περσεφόνη Μεγαλοφώνου Καθηγήτρια Τμήμα Βιολογίας ΕΚΠΑ,
Σωτήρης Καραβόλτσος Επίκουρος Καθηγητής Τμήμα Χημείας. ΕΚΠΑ,
Αικατερίνη Αναστασοπούλου Ερευνήτρια Ελληνικό Κέντρο Θαλάσσιων Ερευνών
Original Title:
Επίδραση μικροπλαστικών και βαρέων μετάλλων στο γένος Mugil σε παράκτιες περιοχές της ανατολικής Μεσογείου.
Translated title:
Effect of microplastics and heavy metals on the genus Mugil in coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean.
Summary:
The present thesis investigates the effect of microplastics and mercury on Chelon ramada
and Chelon auratus of the Mugilidae family, collected from the lagoon of Messolonghi.
These species are important commercial resources for the Greek fisheries and are also
used as biomarkers to assess the quality of marine ecosystems, due to their sensitivity to
environmental pollutants.
The Mediterranean Sea is characterized by a high concentration of plastic litter, which
through physical and chemical processes, is broken down into microplastics and
consumed by marine organisms. In addition to microplastics, heavy metals are another
serious source of pollution for marine ecosystems. Mercury is incorporated into marine
ecosystems through food webs. Fish can bioaccumulate heavy metals in their tissues,
which can negatively affect their health. At the same time, human consumption of these
fish poses risks to public health, underlining the importance of monitoring and managing
heavy metals in the environment.
The research focuses on the effects of pollution, as well as on biological aspects of the
species. More specifically, there is a positive allometric growth in both species (b > 3) in
the length-weight relationship. The Condition factor Kn was recorded with a mean value
of 1.017 for Chelon ramada and 1.019 for Chelon auratus. The gonadosomatic index GSI
had a mean value of 8.1 for Chelon ramada and 0.95 for Chelon auratus. Similarly, the
hepatosomatic index HSI had a mean value of 0.9 for Chelon ramada and 0.92 for
Chelon auratus. In addition, in the dietary analysis, the ISF was calculated, with a mean
value of 7.95 for Chelon ramada and 12.15 for Chelon auratus. This information is
useful to assess the physical condition of the fish and their reproductive activity, which
may be affected by exposure to toxic pollutants.
Samples were analysed for the presence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts and
mercury concentrations were determined in muscle and liver tissues. The results showed
that the species were exposed to significant levels of microplastics with mean values of
2.4 and 3.9 for Chelon ramada and Chelon auratus respectively. Regarding the mercury
concentration, it was found not to exceed the permissible limits (0.5 mg/kg). In particular,
the average value in muscle tissue was 0.023 mg/kg for Chelon ramada and 0.018 mg/kg
for Chelon auratus. In liver tissue, the corresponding values are 0.089 mg/kg and 0.087
mg/kg.
Main subject category:
Science
Keywords:
Mugilidae, microplastics, mercury
Number of references:
109
File:
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Άννα-Μαρία Διπλωματική.pdf
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File access is restricted until 2026-01-30.
