Effects of TBT contamination on Nucella populations
Spence, S.K.; Bryan, G.W.; Gibbs, P.E.; Masters, D.; Morris, L.; Hawkins, S.J. (1990). Effects of TBT contamination on Nucella populations. Funct. Ecol. 4(3): 425-432. https://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2389605
In: Functional Ecology. Blackwell Publishers: Oxford. ISSN 0269-8463; e-ISSN 1365-2435, more
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| Keywords |
Contamination
Gradients
Population abundance (in number)
Tributyltin
Nucella lapillus (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
Local; National; Wave exposure |
| Authors | | Top |
- Spence, S.K.
- Bryan, G.W.
- Gibbs, P.E.
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- Masters, D.
- Morris, L.
- Hawkins, S.J.
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| Abstract |
Leachates from tributyltin (TBT) based antifouling paints have been shown to induce the superimposition of male characters on females (imposex) in the dogwhelk, Nucella lapillus (L.) (Gibbs & Bryan, 1986; Bryan et al., 1987). Imposex is widespread in Britain. Contamination is localized close to source in most of the country, with the exception of the south coast where boating activity is intense. Investigation of paired shores along an uncontaminated and contaminated wave exposure gradient on the Isle of Man showed natural changes that occur in population structure and the decline in abundance due to TBT contamination. The community consequences of a TBT-induced decline in thaid predation and importance of the whelk as an indicator of TBT are discussed. |
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