Stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) and heavy metal levels in macroalgae, sediment, and benthos from the northern parts of Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman

Abstract

In this investigation, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N isotope ratios and heavy metal levels were assessed in macroalgae, sediment samples, and benthic species from northern parts of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The highest δ¹⁵N values in algal samples (11±0.42), indicative of anthropogenic organic N inputs, were detected in the Sadaf region, whereas the lowest values (3.17 ± 0.12), indicative of anthropogenic inorganic inputs, were detected in the Parvaz region. In addition to sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), contamination factors (CF), enrichment factors (EF), contamination degree (CD), pollution load index (PLI), geo accumulation index (Igeo), and potential ecological risk index (RI) were employed to assess the anthropogenic influence on sediment quality and to describe the sensitivity of the biota to toxic heavy metals. The obtained results demonstrate that the analyzed elements (Mn, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cu, Co, and V) had no ecological risk in the sampling area.

Keywords: Algae; Benthos; Gulf of Oman; Persian Gulf; Risk assessment; Sediment.