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BIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF THE SEA URCHIN, ARBACIA PUNTULATA, TO LEAD CONTAMINATION FOR AN ESTUARINE ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT
Citation:
Nacci, D E., J R. Serbst, T R. Gleason, S. Cayula, G B. Thursby, W R. Munns Jr., AND R. Johnston. BIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF THE SEA URCHIN, ARBACIA PUNTULATA, TO LEAD CONTAMINATION FOR AN ESTUARINE ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM STRESS AND RECOVERY 7:187-199, (2000).
Description:
An estuarine ecological risk assessment for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS) Kittery, ME, was conducted utilizing the U.S. EPA's Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA). As part of the analysis phase of the ERA, laboratory studies were conducted to develop quantitative exposure-response relationships for lead (Pb), a key contaminant of concern for PNS, in order to evaluate the role of Pb in the ecological stress observed near PNS, and to estimate the probability of ecological risk associated with Pb contamination at the site. Biological effects of exposure to Pb via sediment or diet were evaluated using several life stages of the sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata. This strategy was employed because echinoderm species, including A. punctulata, are amenable to laboratory testing and have been used frequently to assess the toxicity of estuarine waters and sediments. In addition, life stage-specific biological effects could be compared and integrated into projections of population-level responses to Pb. Results indicated that adult sea urchins accumulated Pb in direct proportion to exposure medium Pb concentration, whether exposure occurred via sediment or diet. High Pb concentrations reduced survival and gamete production in females, but had no effect on the viability of produced gametes. Aqueous Pb exposure concentrations that produced adverse effects on adult sea urchin survival and reproduction were also directly toxic to early life stages. In addition to their utility for this ERA, these results have applicability for the prediction of biological effects or the retrospective analysis of causal relationships at other estuarine sites.