EFFECT OF HEAVY METALS ON SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES IN TWO FISH SPECIES INHABITING MEDITERRANEAN SEA COAST; DAMIETTA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT.

The present study aims to determine the concentrations of heavy metals: Cadmium, Copper, Iron, Nickel, Lead and Zinc
in the two fish species, Sparus aurata and Diplodus sargus, (family: Sparidae) collected from the Mediterranean Sea Coast, Damietta Governorate, in order to: compare concentrations of metals in the different organs (gonads, kidney, liver, muscles, gills, skin and bones) and their effects on the physiological parameters (total proteins, total lipids, ASAT and ALAT) in the edible organs of these species. Results revealed that, the highest values of heavy metals in the different organs of S. aurata and D. sargus were recorded during summer. Although, the two species have the same behavior of feeding, S. aurata showed high values of the different metals than D. sargus. Biochemical analysis indicated devastating effects in metabolic parameters and enzymes activities in S. aurata than D. sargus. ANOVA (p> 0.05) showed significant differences between the different organs and metals. Also, biochemical parameters exhibited a significant increase between seasons and the different organs and a slight difference between the studied fishes.