Padina pavonica algae as a Heavy metals Bio-Indicator in Inter tidal Sediments of Bushehr Coasts, Persian Gulf

In this study, Padina pavonica used as a biological monitor of heavy metals on the coast of Bushehr. For this purpose, four stations of Helileh, Lian, Rafael (burned ship) and Naftkesh were selected as sampling sites and sampling of sediment and Algae were done in the summer and winter of 2016. Powdered samples of sediments and algae were digested and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. mean metal levels in sediment and algae decreased in the following order: Ni > Pb > Cu > Cd >Hg and showed that the highest metal concentration in algae was for nickel (mean±SE)12.31±3.9 mg/g at Helileh station in winter and in sediment of Naftkesh 11.45±0.65 mg/g. The lowest metal concentration was for mercury in sediment and algeal samples of Naftkesh in winter, respectively 0.36 ± 0.005 mg/g and 0.39 ± 0.015 mg/g. Also, the highest amount of BSAF belonging to cadmium in Rafael station in winter; that it was 6.23. The results of this study indicated that this species can use as a bio-indicator for heavy metals in the marine environment.