Using bioaccumulation and growth in caged intertidal oysters to assess oil exposure and effects in delaware bay

摘要

As part of a controlled release of oil on an intertidal beach in Delaware Bay, 130 oysters (Crassostrea irgincia) were transplanted at each of 11 intertidal sties. Oyster survival was over 96 percoent. Exposure was characterized by measuring the accumulation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in oyster tissues on days 0, 1, 8, 15, and 28. Effects were characterized by measuring oyster wights and lengths at the beginning and end of the test to estimate grouwth. End-of-test (EOT) tissue w eights were found to be the most discriminating effects endpint, and s tatistically significant differences were found when comparing treatment and control groups of oysters. A statistically significant telationship was also found between Day 1 tissue PAHs and EOT tissue weights. This suggests that bivalve tissue burdens measured after only one day of time. This relationship demonstrates potential applications for monitoring oil spills on a real-time basis for both exposure and effects.