A possible new meiofaunal tool for rapid assessment of the environmental impact of marine oil pollution

• Published in: Cahiers de biologie marine Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 277 - 282
• Main Authors: MOORE, C. G, STEVENSON, J. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Roscoff Ed. de la station biologique 01-03-1997
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Copepoda; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Harpacticoida; Marine; Marine and brackish environment; Scotland; United Kingdom; Great Britain; North Sea; Europe; Shetland Islands; ANE, British Isles, Scotland, Shetland, Mainland, Sumburgh Head; Oil spill; Meiofauna; Hydrocarbon; Biological indicator; Impact study; Crustacea; Marine environment; Arthropoda; Environment impact; Dominant species; Copepoda; Water pollution; Invertebrata; Environmental monitoring; Ecological abundance; Harpacticoidea
• ISSN: 0007-9723; 2262-3094

Five months after the oil spillage from the MV Braer tanker a limited survey of the meiofaunal copepod assemblage was carried out to the west of the south Shetland peninsula, where sediment oil content ranged from 19 to 8816 ppm. There was no evidence for any impact of oil on species diversity. Copepod abundance and species composition did show correlations with oil content but this was explicable in terms of the influence of sediment type, which was also related to oil content in the area. A strong correlation between the relative abundance of ectinosomatid copepods and oil content appeared unlikely to be due to the influence of natural factors It is suggested that ectinosomatids may be highly sensitive to oiled sediments. Further evidence for enhanced susceptibility to oil was manifest in the finding of ectinosomatids coated in oil droplets, suggesting the possession of a lipophilic cuticle. It is proposed that under certain conditions the relative abundance of ectinosomatids may provide a rapid tool for monitoring the impact of oil on benthic communities, if this putative sensitivity is confirmed by further studies.