EVALUATION OF OSILINUS-ATTRATUS AS A BIOINDICATOR ORGANISM TO MONITOROIL POLLUTION IN THE CANARY-ISLANDS

Concentrations of n-alkanes and PAHs in the visceral mass of the marin e winkle Osilinus attratus taken from three locations on the southeast coast of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) over a two-year period, wer e evaluated at monthly intervals in order to assess if this small mari ne winkle may be used as bioindicador organism. Factor analysis and cl uster analysis were applied in order to determine if it was possible t o relate sampling areas to potential sources of petroleum contaminatio n.