Abstract
Experiments on growth of the marine amphipod Allorchestes compressa Dana were carried out over four weeks, and both growth and reproduction were studied over three generations, each of which was exposed to uranium for approximately 10 wk. At 0.1 mg l-1 the uranium increased growth by 23%, as measured by the mean weight after 4 wk, and at 2 mg l-1 growth was reduced by 28% compared with the control. A. compressa accumulated uranium from sea water with a concentration factor of 10. There was no effect of uranium on the survival of amphipods or their progeny in the multiple-generation experiment, but the numbers of males, the sex ratio, and the respiration rate (measured on males only) at 1mg l-1 were significantly lower than the control. A. compressa is shown to be a convenient species for the study of toxic effects on growth and reproduction using multiple-generation experiments.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Ahsanullah, M.: Acute toxicity of cadmium and zinc to seven invertebrate species from Western Port, Victoria. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 27, 187–196 (1976)
Ahsanullah, M. and G. H. Arnott: Acute toxicity of copper, cadmium and zinc to larvae of Paragrapsus quadridentatus (H. Milne Edwards), and implications for water quality criteria. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 29, 1–8 (1978)
Ahsanullah, M. and G. W. Brand: The effect of selenite and seleniferous fly-ash leachate on growth and viability of the marine amphipod Allorchestes compressa. Mar. Biol. 89, 245–248 (1985)
Ahsanullah, M. and T. M. Florence: Toxicity of copper to the marine amphipod Allorchestes compressa in the presence of water- and lipid-soluble ligands. Mar. Biol. 84, 41–45 (1984)
Ahsanullah, M. and D. H. Palmer: Acute toxicity of selenium to three species of marine invertebrates, with notes on a continuous flow test system. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 31, 795–802 (1980)
Anonymous: State Environment Protection Policy No. W-28 (The waters of Westernport Bay and Catchment), Victoria: Environment Protection Authority 1979. (Government Gazette No, 12)
Chassard-Bouchaud, C.: Cellular and subcellular localization of uranium in the crab Carcinus maemas: a microanalytical study. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 14, 133–136 (1983)
Chassard-Bouchaud, C., D. Calmet, F. Escaig et F. Kleinbauer: Bioaccumulation d'uranium par des moules, Mytilus edulis (L.) récoltes sur les côtes françaises de la Manche et contamination expérimentale. Microanalyse par émission ionique secondaire. C. r. hebd. Séanc. Acad. Sci., Paris 296, 1095–1100 (1983)
Ellis, W. R. and M. Ahsanullah: The use of nuclear techniques to investigate the levels of uranium in marine waters and its uptake and distribution by marine biota. Nucl. Tracks Radiat. Measmt 8, 437–441 (1984)
Highsmith, R. C.: Sex reversal and fighting behaviour: coevolved phenomena in a tanaid crustacean. Ecology 64, 719–726 (1983)
International Atomic Energy Agency: Generic models and parameters for assessing the environmental transfer of radionuclides from routine releases. Safety Series No. 57, 117 pp. Vienna: I.A.E.A. 1982
National Academy of Sciences/National Academy of Engineering: Water quality criteria 1972, 594 pp. Washington: NAS/NAE 1973
Newell, R. C., M. Ahsanullah and V. I. Pye: Aerial and aquatic respiration in the shore crab Carcinus meenas (L.). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 43A, 239–252 (1972)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Chemical Technology Division annual progress report Ref. ORNL-4272. pp 177–179. Oak Ridge, Tennessee: Oak Ridge National Laboratory 1968
Reimer, G.: Uranium determination in natural water by the fission track technique. J. geochem. Explor. 4, p. 425 (1975)
Robertson, A. I. and J. A. Hansen. Decomposing seaweed: a nuisance or a vital link in coastal food chains? In: CSIRO Marine Laboratories Research Report 1979–1981, pp 75–83. Cronulla: CSIRO Marine Laboratories 1982
Robertson, A. I. and J. S. Lucas: Food choice, feeding rates, and the turnover and macrophyte biomass by a surf-zone inhabiting amphipod. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 72, 99–124 (1983)
Sheader, M.: The reproductive biology and ecology of Gammarus duebeni (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in Southern England. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 63, 517–540 (1983)
Stebbing, A. R. D.: Hormesis — stimulation of colony growth in Campanularia flexuosa (Hydrozoa) by copper, cadmium and other toxicants. Aquat. Toxic. 1, 227–238 (1981)
Valkovic, V.: Trace elements in coal, Vol. 1. 210 pp. Coca Raton, Florida: CRC Press Inc. 1983
Wall, T.: The AAEC uranium analysis service. At. Energy Aust. 22, p. 2 (1979)
Westernhagen, H. von: Some aspects of the biology of the hyperiid amphipod Hyperoche medusarum. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 28, 43–50 (1976)
Wickens, J. F.: Catches of large lysianassid amphipods in baited traps at the Nuclear Energy Authority dump site during June 1979. Deep-Sea Res. 30, 83–86 (1983)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by G. F. Humphrey, Sydney
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ahsanullah, M., Williams, A.R. Effect of uranium on growth and reproduction of the marine amphipod Allorchestes compressa . Marine Biology 93, 459–464 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401114
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401114