Effects of the Razor Clam Tagelus plebeius on the Fate of Petroleum Hydrocarbons: A Mesocosm Experiment

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Paul L KlerksF R Louka

Abstract

The relationship between organisms and contaminants may be a two-way interaction: contaminants affecting the biota and the biota affecting the environmental fate and distribution of the contaminants. This may be especially so for sediment-dwelling organisms, because their burrowing and feeding can drastically influence sediment characteristics. The present study looked at the influence of the suspension-feeding stout razor clam Tagelus plebeius on the distribution of crude oil and pyrene in greenhouse mesocosm experiments. Water column turbidity and sediment redox also were monitored during the 15- to 30-day exposures to provide information on the influence of hydrocarbons and the razor clams on environmental conditions. For the experiment with crude oil, sediment was taken from the mesocosms at the end of the experiment, and the hydrocarbon-degradation potential was assessed in incubations with 14C-naphthalene. The experiments used four treatments: hydrocarbons present/absent and razor clams present/absent. Hydrocarbon dosing levels were relatively low (1 mL of oil or 30 mg of pyrene per mesocosm with 22 L of natural sediment and 11 L of seawater). The presence of the razor clams resulted in hydrocarbon concentrations at the s...Continue Reading

References

Aug 23, 2005·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·Aurélie CiutatAlain Boudou
Aug 26, 2010·Science·Terry C HazenOlivia U Mason
Mar 25, 2011·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·W J LangstonC H Vane
May 2, 2013·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·Tom SizmurNelson J O'Driscoll
Jun 14, 2013·PloS One·Magalie StauffertRobert Duran
Aug 8, 2015·Science·Samantha B Joye
Sep 18, 2015·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·Emmanuel R Blankson, Paul L Klerks
Nov 11, 2015·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Sara KleindienstSamantha B Joye

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 23, 2019·Water Environment Research : a Research Publication of the Water Environment Federation·Chein-Chi ChangYing Mei

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bioremediation (ASM)

Bioremediation is the treatment and removal of harmful pollutants or contaminants through the use of microorganisms. Discover the latest research here.