Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T17:42:53.885Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of A Toxic Bloom ofChrysochromulina Polylepis on the Common Dog-Whelk,Nucella Lapillus on the Swedish West Coast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

Annika Robertson
Annika Robertson
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Uppsala University, Box 561, S-751 22 Uppsala, Sweden
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

A massive toxic bloom ofChrysochromulina polylepis occurred along the Swedish west coast in May and June 1988 with severe effects on most biota in shallow marine habitats. In the present study, the effects on the common dog-whelk,Nucella lapillus was investigated in the archipelago at the mouth of the Gullmar Fjord.

Mortality varied throughout the archipelago, with extinction of populations in the inner parts and survivors found only on the outermost islands. Even on these sites, mortality could be as high as 98­99%. Extensive samples of survivors and dead animals were divided into five age groups dependent on size and wear of the shell. The cohort consisting of 3­4 year old individuals suffered the lowest mortality, while mortality was almost total in younger and older cohorts. In each age group, except the oldest, survivors were significantly larger than the dead.

The number of egg capsules laid per female in 1988 seemed normal, but about half of the capsules were empty. The number of young per capsule was significantly lower in 1988 compared to 1989, but the young were significantly bigger.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 71 , Issue 3 , August 1991 , pp. 569 - 578
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aune, T., 1989. Toxicity of marine and freshwater algal biotoxins towards freshly prepared hepatocytes. In Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins '88 (ed. Natori, S., Hashimoto, K and Ueno, Y), pp. 461–468. Amsterdam:Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.Google Scholar
Crothers, J.H., 1985. Dog-whelks: an introduction to the biology of Nucella lapillus. Field Studies, 6, 291–360Google Scholar
Eriksson, J. & Fagerlund, K., 1988. Hemolytiska och cytotoxiska effekter av extrakt fran Chrysochromulina polylepis. Kristineberg Marine Biological Station. Unpublished report.Google Scholar
Feare, C.J., 1970. Aspects of the ecology of an exposed shore population of dog whelks Nucella lapillus. Oecologia, 5, 1–18CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ghiretti, F., 1966. Respiration. In Physiology of Mollusca vol. 2 (ed. Wilbur, K.M. and Yonge, C.M.) New York and London:Academic PressGoogle Scholar
Goodman, D., 1987. The demography of chance extinction. In Viable Populations for Conservation (ed. Soule, M.E) pp. 11–34. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lindahl, O., 1986. Offshore growth ofGyrodinium aureolum (Dinophyceae) - the cause of coastal blooms in the Skagerrak area? Sarsia, 71, 27–33CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lindahl, O. & Rosenberg, R. (ed.), 1989. Algblomningen avChrysochromulina polylepis vid svenska vastkusten 1988: fysisk-kemiska, biologiska och effektrelaterade studier. Naturvdrdsverket Rapport 3602, Stockholm: Statens Naturvardsverk. [With English summary.]Google Scholar
Moore, H.B., 1938. The biology ofPurpura lapillus. Part II. Growth. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 23, 57–66CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shilo, M., 1981. The toxic principles of Prymnesium parvum. In The Water Environment - Algal toxins and Health (ed. Carmichael, W.W.), pp. 37–47. New York and London:Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Southwood, T.R.E., 1978. Ecological Methods (2nd ed.). London: Chapman and Hall.Google Scholar
Rosenberg, R., Lindahl, O. & Blanck, H., 1988. Silent spring in the sea.Ambio 17, 289–290.Google Scholar
Underdal, B., Skulberg, O.M., Dahl, E. & Aune, T., 1989. Disastrous bloom ofChrysochromulina polylepis (Prymnesiophyceae) in Norwegian coastal waters 1988 mortality in marine biota. Ambio, 18, 265–270.Google Scholar