Relationship between benthic fishes and bottom sediment metals in the Gulf of Tigullio (Ligurian Sea, Italy)

The contamination of heavy metals in water and sediments, when occurring in higher concentrations, is a serious threat because of their toxicity, long persistence, and bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the food chain. Fishes are used as bioindicators, playing an important role in monitoring heavy metals pollution. Morphological endpoints in gills, liver and kidney of benthic teleosts living in heavy metal contaminated sites are presented in this study.