EXXON VALDEZ Oil Spill State/Federal Natural Resources Damage Assessment Final Report. Effects of Hydrocarbons on Bivalves Following the EXXON VALDEZ Oil Spill. Fish/Shellfish Study 13

摘要

The authors examined the effects of hydrocarbons on bivalve populations in Prince William Sound, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, and the Alaska Peninsula following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The majority of sampling sites were exposed to low levels of aromatic hydrocarbons. One designated control site (Simpson Bay) was also partially contaminated by refined petroleum hydrocarbons. Bivalve tissues at oiled sites were found to have high levels of aromatic hydrocarbons. However, clam tissues were not severely affected histopathologically either in 1989 or 1990. The authors were unable to determine mortality rates of bivalves during this study. Growth rates of littleneck clams decreased as the levels of aromatic hydrocarbons increased. Growth rates of littleneck clams decreased as tide level increased. There were no significant differences in recruitment of young-of-the-year (YOY) littleneck clams between control and oiled sites in Prince William Sound. The initiation of future studies is recommended to study bivalve populations throughout Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet, Kodiak Island, and the Alaska Peninsula to provide baseline information in the event of another oil spill.