Effects of prudhoe bay crude oil contamination on sediment working rates of Abarenicola pacifica

Abstract

Lugworms ( Abarenicola pacifica) were exposed to sediment containing 250 to 1000 ppm Prudhoe Bay crude oil. At concentrations of 500 and 1000 ppm the rate of feeding, as measured by faecal production, was reduced by 70%. Smaller control animals turned over more sediment in proportion to their body size than larger ones. Exposure to oil at high levels abolished this difference by greater depression of the rate of faecal production by smaller individuals.