high in the gill and high in the digestive gland compared with
RST and gonad. In spring seasons, far high concentration was
observed in the digestive gland compared with the gill, RST,
and gonad.
At Algiers port, Mn concentrations were low (summer) and
relatively high (autumn) in both RST and gonad. Conversely,
they were notable in both organs gill and digestive gland over
the same seasons. In winter season, far high Mn content was
found in digestive gland compared with the remainder organs.
The decreasing order of Mn concentration in organs of mussels during spring was gill ˃ digestive gland ˃ gonad ˃ RST.
Statistical data analysis
ANOVA results (Fig. 3) showed that in 60.41% (29/48 of
cases), significant differences of heavy metal concentrations
were registered among all organs of mussels at three sites.
Thus, the biggest rate of 81.25% was registered for Sercouf
mussels, while low rate of 50% was recorded at Figuier and
Algiers port sites. On the other hand, in 39.58% (19/48) of
overall comparison results, at least two organs of mussels had
significantly different level of heavy metal content. In fact, a
great rate of 50% was recorded at Algiers port and Figuier,
whereas a low rate of 18.75% was registered at Sercouf.
PCA of metal results in mussel organs (Fig. 4) indicated that
the two principal components (F1 and F2) explained
63.94.6% of the total data variance. The first component
Fact1 (contribution of 38.81%) had good positive correlation
with both Ni and Mn metals and negative correlation with Pb.
However, the second component Fact2 (contribution of
25.13%) was negatively correlated with Cd.
The projection of mussel organs on the factorial plan (1 × 2)
revealed clear specific distribution of organs at three sites;
indeed, organs of Figuier mussels (especially digestive gland
and gill) showed high level of both metals Mn and Ni.
However, significant Pb contents were found in organs of
Fig. 4 Projection of studied
heavy metals and mussel organs
on the plan factorial (1 × 2) (with
F, Figuier; S, Sercouf; P, Algiers
port; 1, summer; 2, autumn; 3,
winter; 4, spring; G, gill; D,
digestive gland; g, gonad; R, rest
of soft tissues)
Table 3 Seasonal IMBI values of mussel organs, gill, digestive gland (DG), gonad and RST at Figuier, Sercouf, and Algiers port sites
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Gill
DG
RST Gonad Gill
DG
RST Gonad Gill
DG
RST Gonad Gill
DG
RST Gonad
Figuier
0.58 1
0.34 0.53
0.82 0.62 0.37 0.25
0.79 0.68 0.37 0.23
0.45 1
0.42 0.37
Sercouf
0.59 0.76 0.76 0.43
0.87 0.78 0.69 0.42
0.85 0.73 0.43 0.2
0.39 1
0.36 0.33
Algiers port 0.83 0.96 0.42 0.43
0.84 0.94 0.62 0.6
0.71 0.99 0.73 0.36
0.74 0.88 0.52 0.33
Environ Sci Pollut Res
RST and gonad. In spring seasons, far high concentration was
observed in the digestive gland compared with the gill, RST,
and gonad.
At Algiers port, Mn concentrations were low (summer) and
relatively high (autumn) in both RST and gonad. Conversely,
they were notable in both organs gill and digestive gland over
the same seasons. In winter season, far high Mn content was
found in digestive gland compared with the remainder organs.
The decreasing order of Mn concentration in organs of mussels during spring was gill ˃ digestive gland ˃ gonad ˃ RST.
Statistical data analysis
ANOVA results (Fig. 3) showed that in 60.41% (29/48 of
cases), significant differences of heavy metal concentrations
were registered among all organs of mussels at three sites.
Thus, the biggest rate of 81.25% was registered for Sercouf
mussels, while low rate of 50% was recorded at Figuier and
Algiers port sites. On the other hand, in 39.58% (19/48) of
overall comparison results, at least two organs of mussels had
significantly different level of heavy metal content. In fact, a
great rate of 50% was recorded at Algiers port and Figuier,
whereas a low rate of 18.75% was registered at Sercouf.
PCA of metal results in mussel organs (Fig. 4) indicated that
the two principal components (F1 and F2) explained
63.94.6% of the total data variance. The first component
Fact1 (contribution of 38.81%) had good positive correlation
with both Ni and Mn metals and negative correlation with Pb.
However, the second component Fact2 (contribution of
25.13%) was negatively correlated with Cd.
The projection of mussel organs on the factorial plan (1 × 2)
revealed clear specific distribution of organs at three sites;
indeed, organs of Figuier mussels (especially digestive gland
and gill) showed high level of both metals Mn and Ni.
However, significant Pb contents were found in organs of
Fig. 4 Projection of studied
heavy metals and mussel organs
on the plan factorial (1 × 2) (with
F, Figuier; S, Sercouf; P, Algiers
port; 1, summer; 2, autumn; 3,
winter; 4, spring; G, gill; D,
digestive gland; g, gonad; R, rest
of soft tissues)
Table 3 Seasonal IMBI values of mussel organs, gill, digestive gland (DG), gonad and RST at Figuier, Sercouf, and Algiers port sites
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Gill
DG
RST Gonad Gill
DG
RST Gonad Gill
DG
RST Gonad Gill
DG
RST Gonad
Figuier
0.58 1
0.34 0.53
0.82 0.62 0.37 0.25
0.79 0.68 0.37 0.23
0.45 1
0.42 0.37
Sercouf
0.59 0.76 0.76 0.43
0.87 0.78 0.69 0.42
0.85 0.73 0.43 0.2
0.39 1
0.36 0.33
Algiers port 0.83 0.96 0.42 0.43
0.84 0.94 0.62 0.6
0.71 0.99 0.73 0.36
0.74 0.88 0.52 0.33
Environ Sci Pollut Res