Abstract

A. H. Bu-Olayan and B. V. Thomas*

Echinoderms sampled from five marine sits of Kuwait showed high trace metal levels (Zn, Fe, Cu, Ni, and Pb) during harmful algal blooms (HAB) in sea cucumber (0.5-7.20 μg/g)>sea star (0.44-7.19 μg/g)>brittle star (0.36-6.71 μg/g) when compared to their metal levels during Non-HAB's (0.41-6.76 μg/g, 0.39-6.71 μg/g and 0.23-6.19 μg/g respectively). Site-wise metal levels were found high in Kubbar Is. (4.01/3.68 μg/g) > Quaro Is. (3.16/3.09 μg/g) >Umm-al-Maradeem Is. (3.07/2.97 μg/g) > Salmiya (2.97/2.51 μg/g)> Umm-al-Nammil Is. (2.80/2.16 μg/g). Species abundance were in the sequence of brittle star>sea star> sea cucumber irrespective of HAB's or non-HAB's. Site-wise abundance were observed in the sequence of Umm-al-Maradeem Is. (9.0-21.0 m-2) > Quaro Is. (8.0-18.0 m-2) > Kubbar Is. (6.0-14.0 m-2)> Umm-al-Nammil Is. (2.0-6.0 m-2) > Salmiya (2.0-4.0 m-2). Statistically, high trace metal levels correlated low species densities during the HAB's and the reverse during non-HAB and thus labelled the above three echinoderms as indicator species to HAB's in Kuwait.

Echinoderms; trace metals; HAB's; Kuwait

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