HYDROCARBONS, STEROLS AND FATTY-ACIDS IN SEA-URCHIN (PARACENTROTUS-LIVIDUS) OF THE ADRIATIC SEA

Aliphatic hydrocarbons, linear alkylbenzenes (LABs), sterols and fatty acids were determined in sea urchins (Paracentrotus lividus) of the A driatic Sea in order to study their relationship with the trophic chai n. The prevailing aliphatic hydrocarbons were squalene (40.3%) and n-C -17:1 (24.9%), both of recent biological origin. LABs, on the other ha nd, are considered tracers of domestic wastes in marine environment. A mong sterols, cholesterol(73.5%) and other Delta 5-sterols are dominan t, Fatty acids 16:0 (20.0%), 20:5 omega 3 (12.2%) and 14:0 (7.6%) were prevalent here as they are in other echinoid species analyzed by othe r authors. The distribution of these different compounds seems to be i nfluenced by factors such as physiological needs, available diet and a nthropogenic contamination.