Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of oil on behavioral responses to light, pressure and gravity in larvae of the rock crab Cancer irroratus

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cancer irroratus Say larvae (Zoeal Stages I–V and megalopae) were cultured and studied in 0.0, 0.1, and 1.0 ppm concentrations of water-accommodated fractions of No. 2 fuel oil under static conditions. Behavioral changes were monitored in terms of water column responses to various conditions of light, pressure and gravity. Results showed significant (F=206.12, P<0.01) effects of this oil fraction on larval behavior, with the specific response to oil depending upon the concentration, larval stage and the combination of light, pressure and gravity tested. Responses at 0.1 ppm differed from those at 1.0 ppm (F=5.01, P<0.05). Geonegative upward movements in the water column were typically depressed in early-stage larvae and enhanced in late-stage larvae after subjection to oils, showing gravity responses to be greatly affected. Phototactic behaviors were significantly changed by the oil and pressure responses were slightly affected.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Ahmed, S.M., M.D. Beasley, A.C. Efromson and R.A. Hites: Sampling errors in the quantitation of petroleum in Boston Harbor water. In: Marine pollution monitoring (petroleum), proceedings of symposium and workshop, pp 109–112. Gaithersburg, Md.: U.S. Department of Commerce (National Bureau of Standard) 490, 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J.W.: Laboratory studies on the effects of oil on marine organisms: an overview, Publs Am. Petrol. Inst. 4249, 1–70 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • —, J.M. Neff, B.A. Cox, H.E. Tatem and G.M. Hightower: Characteristics of dispersions and water-soluble extracts of crude and refined oils and their toxicity to estuarine crustaceans and fish. Mar. Biol. 27, 75–88 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, J.M.: Biological effects of refinery products. In: Proceedings of the joint conference on the prevention and control of oil spills, pp 715–723. Washington, D.C.: American Petroleum Institute 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigford, T.E.: Behavioral responses to light during larval development of the rock crab, Cancer irroratus Say. (In preparation)

  • Blumer, M., J.M. Hunt, J. Atema and L. Stein: Interaction between marine organisms and oil pollution. Publs U.S. envir. Prot. Ag., ecol. Res. Ser. No. EPA-R3-73-042, 1–97 (1973)

  • Buchanan, D.V., R.E. Millemann and N.E. Stewart: Effects of the insecticide Sevin on various stages of the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 27, 93–104 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan, G.L.: A study of the effects of the San Francisco oil spill on marine organisms. In: Proceedings of the joint conference on the prevention and control of oil spills, pp 741–781. Washington, D.C.: American Petroleum Institute 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Cragg, S.M. and U.D. Gruffydd: The swimming behaviour and the pressure responses of the veliconcha larvae of Ostrea edulis L. In: Proceedings of the ninth European marine biology symposium, pp 43–57. Ed. by H. Barnes. Aberdeen: University Press 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • DeCoursey, P. and W. Vernberg: Effect of mercury on survival, metabolism, and behavior of larval Uca pugilator (Brachyura). Oikos 23, 241–247 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Duce, R.A., J.G. Quinn, G.E. Olney, S.R. Piotrowica, B.J. Ray and T.L. Wade: Enrichment of heavy metals and organic compounds in the surface microlayer of Narragansett Bay, R.I. Science, N.Y. 176, 161–163 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrington, J.W. and J.G. Quinn: Petroleum hydrocarbons in Narragansett Bay. I. Survey of hydrocarbons in sediments and clams (Mercenaria mercenaria). Estuar. cstl mar. Sci. 1, 71–79 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hicks, S.D.: The physical oceanography of Narragansett Bay. Limnol. Oceanogr. 4, 316–327 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyland, J.L., P.F. Rogerson and G.R. Gardner: A continuous flow bioassay apparatus for the exposure of marine animals to oil. In: Proceedings of 1977 oil spill conference (prevention, behavior, control, cleanup). (Sponsored by American Petroleum Institute, Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard) New Orleans, La. 1977

  • Jones, C.: The ecology and metabolic adaptation of Cancer irroratus Say. M. Sc. thesis, 83 pp. University of Rhode Island 1973

  • Kuhnhold, W.W.: The influence of crude oils on fish fry. In: Marine pollution and sea life, pp 315–318. Ed. by M. Ruivo. London: Fishing News (Books) Ltd. 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, R.F.: Fate of petroleum hydrocarbons in marine zooplankton. In: Proceedings of conference on prevention and control of oil pollution, pp 549–553. Washington, D.C.: American Petroleum Institute 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Mironov, O.G.: Effect of oil pollution on flora and fauna of the Black Sea. In: Marine pollution and sea life, pp 222–224. Ed. by M. Ruivo. London: Fishing News (Books) Ltd. 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Nuzzi, R.: Effects of water soluble extracts of oil on phytoplankton. In: Proceedings of the joint conference on the prevention and control of oil spills, pp 809–813. Washington, D.C.: American Petroleum Institute 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearce, J.B.: The effects of solid waste disposal on benthic communities in the New York Bight. In: Marine pollution and sea life, pp 404–441. Ed. by M. Ruivo. London: Fishing News (Books) Ltd. 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Reilly, P.N.: The biology and ecology of juvenile and adult rock crabs, Cancer irroratus Say, in southern New England waters. M. Sc. thesis, 146 pp. University of Rhode Island 1975

  • Sandifer, P.A.: The role of pelagic larvae in recruitment to populations of adult crustaceans in the York River estuary and adjacent lower Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Estuar. cstl mar. Sci. 3, 269–279 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sastry, A.N.: The larval development of the rock crab, Cancer irroratus Say, under laboratory conditions. Crustaceana (In press)

  • Takahashi, F.T. and J.S. Kittredge: Sublethal effects of the water soluble component of oil: chemical communication in the marine environment. (Copies available from Louisiana State University sea Grant, LSU-SG-73-01) 1973

  • Vaughan, B.E. (Ed.): Measurement of petroleum hydrocarbons in water samples. In: Effects of oil and chemically dispersed oil on selected marine biota — a laboratory study. Publs Am. Petrol. Inst. 4191, p. J1 (1973)

  • Wells, P.G. and J.B. Sprague: Effects of crude oil on American lobster (Homarus americanus) larvae in the laboratory. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 33, 1604–1614 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA

    T. E. Bigford

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA

    T. E. Bigford

Authors
  1. T. E. Bigford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by M.R. Tripp, Newark

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bigford, T.E. Effects of oil on behavioral responses to light, pressure and gravity in larvae of the rock crab Cancer irroratus . Mar. Biol. 43, 137–148 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391261

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391261

Keywords

Search

Navigation