Evaluation of environmental quality of mediterranean coastal lagoons using persistent organic pollutants and metals in thick-lipped grey mullet

The evaluation of past and present anthropogenic impacts affecting the ecological quality status of transitional ecosystems is crucial from the perspective of protecting them from further deterioration, and to evaluate remediation and restoration measures. Contamination patterns of thick-lipped grey mullet from two Mediterranean coastal lagoons within a protected area in Italy were assessed and compared in order to evaluate their overall quality status and to collect information that can provide useful feedback on management choices aimed at enhancing environmental quality and biodiversity conservation. The quality status of the two lagoons was evaluated by an environmental assessment methodology based on indicators of direct and indirect human pressures, while a broad range of analyses were carried out to determine the presence and concentration of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and metals in fish muscle tissue. A good quality status resulted for both lagoons, and an overall limited anthropogenic impact in the surrounding area. This could account for POPs and metal contamination levels found in mullet, although limited, and relating to their patterns. The overlap of results achieved with the two evaluation approaches can provide support for management choices in Mediterranean lagoon environments, especially for those committed to the protection and conservation of biodiversity

Endoparasitic helminths of the European eel, <i>Anguilla anguilla</i>, from four disconnected meanders from the rivers Leie and Scheldt in western Flanders, Belgium

The endoparasitic helminth communities of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.), were investigated in four meanders, cut off from the rivers Leie and Scheldt in western Flanders, Belgium. Six species of helminths (2 cestodes, 2 nematodes and 2 acanthocephalans) were found. The dominant parasite species was the nematode Anguillicola crassus (Kuwahara, Niimi et Itagaki, 1974) infecting 79% of the eel population with intensities up to 112 specimens per fish. At two localities no acanthocephalans could be found, whereas these parasites were very common at the other sites. The prevalence, mean intensity, intensity and abundance, their correlation to the body length, and the frequency distributions were analysed. The site selection of parasites is in relation to food composition and feeding habits of eels, physiological and structural differences in the intestine and possible interspecific competition were discussed