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TBT effects on the female genital system of Littorina littorea: a possible indicator of tributyltin pollution

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Book cover Advances in Littorinid Biology

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 111))

Abstract

Specimens of the prosobranch Littorina littorea (L., 1758) collected along the East Frisian North Sea coast in summer 1993 exhibited alterations of the palliai oviduct termed as intersex in response to tributyltin (TBT) pollution. The range of TBT body burden was between 150.9 and 1289.5 μ;g as Sn kg-1 (dry wt.). Five stages of intersex development (0–4) could be distinguished and are documented with scanning electron micrographs. In stages 2–4, which can be found in the direct vicinity of harbours and marinas, the morphological malformations of the oviduct inhibit successful copulation and capsule formation, resulting in sterilization.

The intersex index (ISI, calculated as the average intersex stage of a population) and the average prostate length of females were used as parameters for the determination of intersex intensities in the populations. Both indices show significant and positive correlations to the TBT body burden of L. littorea and are promising parameters for TBT biomonitoring. A comparison of TBT bioconcentration factors with populations from England and France indicates that the threshold concentration for intersex development is in the range of 15 ng TBT as Sn/1.

Morphometric analyses of the midgut gland revealed no significant differences between sampling stations. In the ovary a retardation and blockage of maturation (atresia) was observed in populations close to harbours. Lytic processes in ovary follicles were observed not only at TBT exposed sites but also at reference stations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Vergleichende Embryologie, Hüfferstrasse 1, D-48149, Münster, Germany

    Barbara Bauer, Pio Fioroni & Eberhard Stroben

  2. LimnoMar, Wulfsdorfer Weg 200, D-22926, Ahrensburg, Germany

    Imke Ide, Stefanie Liebe & Burkard Watermann

  3. Internationales Hochschulinstitut, Markt 23, D-02763, Zittau, Germany

    Jörg Oehlmann

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  1. Barbara Bauer
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  2. Pio Fioroni
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  3. Imke Ide
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  4. Stefanie Liebe
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  5. Jörg Oehlmann
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  6. Eberhard Stroben
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  7. Burkard Watermann
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P. J. Mill C. D. McQuaid

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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Bauer, B. et al. (1995). TBT effects on the female genital system of Littorina littorea: a possible indicator of tributyltin pollution. In: Mill, P.J., McQuaid, C.D. (eds) Advances in Littorinid Biology. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 111. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0435-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0435-7_2

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