Evaluation of the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus as a Pb and Cd bioindicator in the Segura River Basin (Southeast Spain)

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English. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of two heavy metals, Cdand Pb, in the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus and so explore the possibilities ofusing this species as a bioindicator organism. Blue crabs were captured at the mouthof the river Segura (Guardamar del Segura, Spain), an area that has suffered heavyanthropogenic impact. The crabs were euthanized, sexed and biometric parameterswere taken. The hepatopancreas, gills, muscle and carapace were separated;sediments from the study area were also sampled. Element concentrations wereanalysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), andthe Biological Sediments Accumulation Factor (BSAF) and Individual MeanBioaccumulation Index (IMBI) were calculated. Pb concentrations were higher than Cdin the hepatopancreas, gills and muscle; no statistical differences were found betweenthe sexes. Cd and Pb concentrations in sediments were lower than the referencevalues reported in several works. BSAF was higher for Cd than Pb in thehepatopancreas, gills and carapace. For Cd, the hepatopancreas was the tissue withthe highest BSAF, followed by gills. As well, the hepatopancreas had the highest IMBI,followed by the gills, muscle and carapace. For practical field monitoring for metalcontamination in this ecosystem the blue crab could be useful but larger specimenswould be needed for biomonitoring.