The Biological Effects of Oil Pollution on Littoral Communities. Proceedings of Symposium held at Orielton, Pembrokeshire, 17-19 February 1968. Supplement to Field Studies

10.2307/2783 ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 459
Author(s):  
E. W. Knight-Jones ◽  
J. D. Carthy ◽  
Don R. Arthur
1978 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 766-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Leppäkoski ◽  
L. S. Lindström

Quantitative field studies (density, wet weight biomass, Shannon diversity, species richness, evenness of distribution) on benthic sublittoral macrofauna were made in the vicinity of an oil refinery in southwest Finland before and after the installation of a new wastewater treatment plant that reduced the amount of oil and liquid effluents by ca. 90–95%. The number of species and species diversity increased during the 1st and 2nd yr after pollution abatement at the stations close to the former outflows. The amphipods Pontoporeia affinis, Corophium volutator, and C. lacustre, midge larvae of the Chironomus plumosus-group, the oligochaete Tubifex costatus, the polychaetes Harmothoe sarsi and Polydora redeki, and the bivalve Cardium sp. were the most successful recolonizers of the 23 taxa sampled. The strong lethal effect of oil-contaminated sediments upon Chironomus plumosus larvae decreased markedly in laboratory experiments (LT50 was estimated at 7 d in 1973 and at 28 d in 1974; in 1975, 80–90% of the larvae survived for 28 d). Details of postabatement succession are discussed. The results demonstrate not only the recovery from chronic oil pollution but also the degree of ecological damage caused by previous continuous discharge of oil. Key words: Baltic Sea, Chironomus plumosus, macrobenthos, oil pollution, pollution abatement, recolonization, sediment biotests


1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (9-11) ◽  
pp. 1185-1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
R B Clark

Pollution is defined as environmental contamination which has a deleterious effect, and in a biological context it is only mortality which has some impact at the level of the population or community that is important. Thus, very heavy mortality of the eggs and fry of commercial fish species may have no detectable effect on the commercial catch in future years. A reduction in the population of a species which is dominant in its community, on the other hand is likely to result in major ecological adjustment. Oil pollution does not appear to have reduced populations of commercial fish species or seabirds, the two groups of animals about which most fears have been expressed. The marine environment is subject to wide and erratic fluctuations which make it difficult to detect the impact of oil pollution unless the cause is obvious, even then some caution is necessary before attributing environmental change to pollution.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Ahmed El-Sayed ◽  
Mohammed Farouk Ghaly ◽  
Ahmed Adel Amer

Abstract Background Toxic effect of some local bacterial isolates, isolated from the Egyptian cotton plant (Gossypium barbadance L.), on larvae of the spiny bollworm (SBW), Earias insulana (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) was studied as well as the biological effects of the most toxic isolate. Results Bacillus safensis NBRC 100820 had the most toxic effect on the SBW larvae compared to other isolates. Larval mortality percentages were 100, 90, 50, 50 and 30% for newly hatched, 3, 5, 7 and 10-day’s old larvae, respectively, after 2 days from treatment. Moreover, B. safensis NBRC 100820 caused latent effects on different stages of SBW. It decreased the larval and pupal weight, percentages of adult emergence and hatchability as well as number of deposited eggs/female more than the control. Using 16s rRNA confirmed the identification of B. safensis NBRC 100820 and its accession number is MW281809. Conclusions Use of B. safensis NBRC 100820 can be recommended for biological control of E. insulana. Further field studies are needed.


Author(s):  
Funmilayo V. Doherty ◽  
Idowu Aneyo ◽  
Adebayo A. Otitoloju

Abstract Background Monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are toxic compounds which are major components of petroleum products. This study was aimed at identifying histopathological alterations and changes in antioxidants defense systems in Eudrilus eugeniae (earthworm) that can be used as good battery of biomarkers for early detection of pollution associated with hydrocarbons. The toxicological evaluations of benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene (BTEX) were carried out against E. eugeniae. Earthworm samples were collected around oil impacted and control sites. The effect of BTEX was investigated on oxidative stress markers of E. eugeniae. Results Results showed that xylene (1.2 mg/kg) was the most toxic compound, followed by toluene (1.3 mg/kg), ethylbenzene (1.4 mg/kg), and benzene (1.9 mg/kg). The biochemical responses revealed an increase in malondialdehyde level and decrease in the level of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and glutathione-S-transferase in E. eugeniae collected around the oil impacted area of Ijegun. The results from the laboratory studies were confirmed in the field studies. Significant histopathological alterations in the whole organisms were observed in both field and laboratory studies. The pathological findings include cellular and epidermal degeneration, and presence of pigment and inclusion bodies. Conclusion The results reflect the biological effects of hydrocarbon pollution, thus confirming the relevance of histopathological and antioxidant enzymes as biomarkers for detection of hydrocarbon pollution during environmental monitoring programs.


1977 ◽  
Vol 1977 (1) ◽  
pp. 539-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine I. Chan

ABSTRACT This study reports biological effects of the July 1975 oil spill in the Florida Keys for a one-year period. Floating seagrass served as a natural sorbent for oil and stranded in the intertidal zone. A soluble component of oil, or possibly an organic cleaning solvent, leaching from this debris, was probably responsible for a mass mortality of subtidal echinoderms on the rocky platform. Several crab species were eliminated from the rocky shores, mangrove fringes, and Batis marsh communities for several months. Subtidal pearl oysters (Pinctada radiata) from the grass flat community suffered extensive mortalities, also attributable to a soluble component of oil. Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)seedlings on the fringe and in the mangrove swamp, sustaining greater than 50% oiling of their leaves, were killed. Dwarf black mangroves (Avicennia nitida) with greater than 50% oiling of pneumatophores also died, as did some where the substrate remained oiled one year later. Elevated temperatures, exceeding lethal limits for many intertidal organisms, were observed in oil-covered substrates. Oil persisted in the substrate of rocky shores and mangrove-marsh areas for at least one year after the spill.


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