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Effects of tributyltin (TBT) exposure on the veliger larvae development of the bivalve Scrobicularia plana (da Costa)

1995; Elsevier BV; Volume: 186; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0022-0981(94)00151-3

1879-1697

J.M. Ruiz, G. W. Bryan, Peter Gibbs,

Marine Ecology and Invasive Species

Laboratory-obtained veliger larvae of the bivalve Scrobicularia plana were used to test the toxicity of the antifoulant tributyltin (TBT) by means of a static renewal trial which monitored larval survival and growth as influenced by nominal TBT concentrations of 50, 125, 250 and 500 ng Sn·l−1 during 10-day exposure. While S. plana veligers (mean initial shell length = 100 μm) were found to develop to pediveligers (mean length = 230 μm) in 10 days under control culture conditions, all levels of TBT tested significantly reduced the veliger growth rate (by a factor of ≥ 2.7); probable lethal effects of nominal levels ≥ 250 ng Sn·l−1 could not be demonstrated because of reduced larval survival in the solvent control. The results are discussed in relation to the wide-spread disappearance of S. plana in North Atlantic European estuaries during the 1980s and the concurrent TBT pollution in their waters. It is concluded that TBT has probably contributed to the reported demise of clam populations by preventing the successful and timely development of their veliger larvae.