Neanthes Long-Term Exposure Experiment: Further Evaluation of the Relationshipbetween Juvenile Growth and Reproductive Success

摘要

The study reports the results of a long-term exposure of polychaete worms tocontaminated sediments in the laboratory. The investigators sought to evaluate the relationship between juvenile worm growth rate and reproductive success in the same worms as adults. This relationship was considered critical in interpreting the significance of the Neanthes sublethal bioassay test. The results of this experiment and a related long-term exposure experiment indicate that there is a relationship between juvenile growth and reproductive success in Neanthes. A reduction in reproductive success was observed in the same sediments that reductions in juvenile growth were observed. The data from this study indicate that significant reductions in growth during the juvenile stage are associated with subsequent reproductive failure of adults during continued exposure to contaminated sediments.