Difference between revisions of "Pollution and scavengers"

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Therefore, decomposers tend to have higher pollutant contents than other [[pollution and zoobenthos|zoobenthos]]. This although they both (unlike [[pollution and marine mammals|marine mammals]] and [[pollution and sea birds|sea birds]]) also acquire a large part of their pollutants through direct contact with the water; while acquiring oxygen from the water, pollutants can be [[adsorption|adsorbed]] as well.   
 
Therefore, decomposers tend to have higher pollutant contents than other [[pollution and zoobenthos|zoobenthos]]. This although they both (unlike [[pollution and marine mammals|marine mammals]] and [[pollution and sea birds|sea birds]]) also acquire a large part of their pollutants through direct contact with the water; while acquiring oxygen from the water, pollutants can be [[adsorption|adsorbed]] as well.   
  
Crabs, especially their larvae, appear to be vulnerable to pesticides<ref>Levinton, J.S. (2001). Marine biology: function, biodiversity, ecology. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press: New York, NY (USA). ISBN 0-19-514172-5. xi, 515, col. pl. pp.</ref>, which resulted in the 1960s in the collapse of the Chesapeake Bay crab fishery, due to a pesticide called keptone.  
+
Crabs, especially their larvae, appear to be vulnerable to pesticides<ref>Levinton, J.S. (2001). Marine biology: function, biodiversity, ecology. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press: New York, NY (USA). ISBN 0-19-514172-5. xi, 515, col. pl. pp.</ref>, which resulted during the 1960s in the collapse of the Chesapeake Bay crab fishery, due to a pesticide called keptone.  
  
 
Below you can find some links to Belgian case studies on ecotoxicology in marine scavengers.
 
Below you can find some links to Belgian case studies on ecotoxicology in marine scavengers.

Revision as of 07:47, 23 September 2009

Wolhandcrab © Misjel Decleer

Decomposers typically live on the sea floor and include species like crabs, hermit crabs, whelks and starfish.[1] They feed primary on decaying organic matter, which can often contain high concentrations of pollutants. [2] Therefore, decomposers tend to have higher pollutant contents than other zoobenthos. This although they both (unlike marine mammals and sea birds) also acquire a large part of their pollutants through direct contact with the water; while acquiring oxygen from the water, pollutants can be adsorbed as well.

Crabs, especially their larvae, appear to be vulnerable to pesticides[3], which resulted during the 1960s in the collapse of the Chesapeake Bay crab fishery, due to a pesticide called keptone.

Below you can find some links to Belgian case studies on ecotoxicology in marine scavengers.

Case studies

Case study 1: Flame retardants organotin compounds and surfactants in opossum shrimps of the Scheldt estuary.[4]

Case study 2: Effects of endocrine disrupting compounds on embryonic development of opossum shrimps.[5]

Case study 3: Common starfish can act as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution[6]

References

  1. Moore P.G., Howarth J., 1996 Foraging by marine scavengers: Effects of relatedness, bait damage and hunger. Journal of Sea Research, Volume 36, Issues 3-4, P. 267-273
  2. Voorspoels, S.; Covaci, A.; Maervoet, J.; De Meester, I.; Schepens, P. (2004). Levels and profiles of PCBs and OCPs in marine benthic species from the Belgian North Sea and the Western Scheldt Estuary. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 49(5-6): 393-404
  3. Levinton, J.S. (2001). Marine biology: function, biodiversity, ecology. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press: New York, NY (USA). ISBN 0-19-514172-5. xi, 515, col. pl. pp.
  4. Verslycke, T.; Vethaak, A.D.; Arijs, K.; Janssen, C.R. (2004). Flame retardants, surfactants and organotins in sediment and mysid shrimp of the Scheldt estuary (The Netherlands). Environ. Poll. 136(1): 19-31
  5. Ghekiere, A.; Fockedey, N.; Verslycke, T.; Vincx, M.; Janssen, C.R. (2007). Marsupial development in the mysid Neomysis integer (Crustacea: Mysidacea) to evaluate the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 66(1): 9-15
  6. Temara, A.; Skei, J.M.; Gillan, D.; Warnau, M.; Jangoux, M.; Dubois, Ph. (1998). Validation of the asteroid Asterias rubens (Echinodermata) as a bioindicator of spatial and temporal trends of Pb, Cd, and Zn contamination in the field. Mar. Environ. Res. 45(4-5): 341-356