THE EFFECTS OF CRUDE OIL POLLUTION ON THE BEHAVIOR OF MARINE INVERTEBRATES

A study of oil pollution has revealed that the water soluble component of the oil is potentially the most dangerous to the marine biota. This water soluble material apparently destroys the sensitive neuronal dendrites of the chemoreceptor organs. Since most marine organisms depend primarily on chemoreception for the location of food, a suitable niche or sexual partners, disruption of this function would limit severely the survival of the species. Supplementary observations on 'cryptic odors' suggests that this natural mechanism of protection may provide a model for insect repellents. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  City of Hope National Medical Center

  Division of Neurosciences
  Duarte, CA  United States 
• Authors:
  • Kittredge, J S
• Publication Date: 1973-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 14 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bioassay; Crude oil; Environmental impacts; Insects; Invertebrates; Marine biology; Microorganisms; Oil spills; Oils; Water pollution
• Old TRIS Terms: Biological effects (Oil); Chemoreception; Chemoreceptors; End organs; Insect repellents; Sense organs
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00048331
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt
• Contract Numbers: N00014-71-C-0103
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 14 1973 12:00AM