Gp. Serrazanetti et al., HYDROCARBONS, STEROLS AND FATTY-ACIDS IN SEA-URCHIN (PARACENTROTUS-LIVIDUS) OF THE ADRIATIC SEA, Chemosphere, 30(8), 1995, pp. 1453-1461
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.