Target gastropods for standardizing the monitoring of tar mat contamination in the Arabian Gulf

This study proposes a standardization process for monitoring the level of tar mat contamination in Arabian Gulf. In study, we selected target gastropod species and evaluated ecological ecotoxicological effects mats on their populations, bioaccumulation heavy metals, these species’ potential as bioindicator taxa mat-associated metals. The was carried out at two sites Qatar coast shoreline rocks, both which have areas coverage without mats. representative ecoregion were endemic Clypeomorus bifasciata persica (Houbrick, 1985) intertidal zone Echinolittorina arabica (El Assal, 1990) supratidal zone. Both are grazers niche restricted to hard substrates daily scraping/grazing deposition shorelines. key metal indicators chosen As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni Zn, divided into classes according size. Tar presence found negatively affect overall population size different classes, lead high levels assimilation also affected where large sizes be most significantly affected. results demonstrated that Cu metals associated with this kind. Overall, our confirmed grazer gastropods good bioindicators contaminants ecosystems. Our provides database proposed gastropods, offers information will relevant further comparisons among threatened coastal • Shoreline can used standardize monitoring. Grazer snails representatives Intertidal (Clypeomorus) more contaminated than species. contaminations.