Responses of bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) larvae under lethal and sublethal scenarios of crude oil exposure.

摘要: Abstract Bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) is an ecologically important zooplanktivorous fish inhabiting estuaries of the Gulf Mexico and eastern North America from Maine to Florida. Because they have a protracted spawning season (spring through fall) are abundant at all life stages in coastal estuaries, their eggs larvae likely encountered oil that reached coast during Deepwater Horizon spill. We compared responses exposure different lethal sublethal conditions using acute, 24 h exposures. In series experiments, bay were exposed high energy water accommodated fractions (HEWAF) chemically-enhanced WAF (CEWAF) two larval development (5 21 days post hatch, dph). HEWAF exposures induced significantly greater stage dependent sensitivity 5 dph than but chemically dispersed mortality was more variable LC50s not between 21dph larvae. Acute low-level concentrations CEWAF did result significant over 24 h, resulted 25–77% reduction survival 12–34% weight specific growth after six post-exposure following initial exposure. These results show younger dph) vulnerable acute older (21 larvae, do accurately reflect potential population level impacts development.