title: Sediment contact assay using the carpet shell clam, Ruditapes decussatus L., embryos and larvae for assessing contamination levels of four sites in Tunisian coast.
abstract: This study assessed sediment pollution along the Tunisian coast using the sediment contact assay with embryo and larval life-stages of the clam Ruditapes decussatus. Sediment was collected from four sites for testing: Mahres, Monastir lagoon, Zarat and Chebba. Embryo development was significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited in sediment at concentrations ≥5 g L(-1) from the Mahres and Monastir sites, and ≥25 g L(-1) with sediment from the Zarat site. Sediment from the Chebba site had no effect at concentrations up to 125 g L(-1). Compared to the control, the percentages of larval mortality were significantly higher in sediment from Monastir, Mahres and Zarat at sediment concentrations ≥25 g L(-1); mortality increased with increasing sediment concentration to 50.1%, 39.5% and 31.2% respectively at 125 g L(-1). Chebba sediment did not affect the survival of larvae.
authors: Laboratoire d'Aquaculture, Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, BP59, route de Khniss, 5000 Monastir, Tunisie. salem.fathallah@yahoo.fr
authors: Salem
authors: S
authors: Fathallah
authors: Mohamed Néjib
authors: MN
authors: Medhioub
authors: Mohamed Mejdeddine
authors: MM
authors: Kraiem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D049872:Bivalvia; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D014416:Tunisia; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical