Comparative study on the Levels of Heavy Metals in the Bitter Lakes and Lake Temsah, (Suez Canal) in Relation to the Reproductive Cycle of the Rabbit Fish Rhabdosargus haffara

Abstract

The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni and Co in muscles, liver and gonads of fish Rhabdosargus haffara from the Bitter lakes and Lake Temsah, (Suez Canal) were investigated seasonally from 2010 to 2011. Muscles recorded the lowest concentrations of metals than other organs which ranged between 0.161-0.717, 1.848-5.081, 0.102-0.136, 0.019-0.079, 3.066-6.284, 0.153-0.246, 0.020-0.059, 0.015-0.041 and 0.019-0.148 wet weight for Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni and Co respectively in Bitter Lakes, while in lake Temsah the concentration of these metals in muscles were 0.919-1.098 3.908-5.481, 0.107-0.152, 0.033-0.095, 4.748-6.824, 0.139-0.292, 0.039-0.062, 0.019-0.053 and 0.080-0.214. The highest concentrations of all studied metals were found in gonads. Variation of metals in fish muscles through different seasons indicated that the most studied metals their highest value during   . Gonadosomatic index (GSI) and its relationship with metal accumulation was calculated for the studied fish. By using seasonal changes in the values of Gonadosomatic index, it was found that their spawning season is during spring.