|
(80-10) ICES/IOC workshop on biological effects of contaminants in pelagic ecosystems (BECPELAG): in situ techniques. Thain, John*,1, Becker, Gerd2, Hylland, Ketil3, Klungsøyr, Jarle4, Lang, Thomas5, McIntosh, Alistair6, Serigstad, Bjørn9, Thomas, Kevin1, Vethaak, Dick7, Wosniok, Werner8, 1 CEFAS, Burnham on Crouch, UK2 BSH, Hamburg, Germany3 NIVA, Oslo, Norway4 IMR, Bergen, Norway5 BFA-Fi, Cuxhaven, Germany6 FRS, Aberdeen, UK9 Ocean Climate, Bergen, Norway7 RIKZ, Middleburg, Netherlands8 University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany ABSTRACT- There is a lack of agreed methods to assess the impact of contaminants in pelagic ecosystems. Earlier workshops arranged under the auspices of ICES and IOC have stimulated research into the use of biological effects methods to monitor contaminant impacts. Many of the techniques developed have now been incorporated in national and international monitoring programmes. There has been increasing interest throughout the past years to commence co-ordinated studies on effects in pelagic ecosystems as a basis for future monitoring programmes. In situ techniques is one of three components of the workshop. The in situ methods consist of caged cod, sticklebacks and mussels. In April 2001, cages were deployed at four stations in contaminant gradient in the German Bight and at three stations in the vicinity of an oil field in the North Sea plus a reference area. In June, approximately six weeks later, the cages and organisms were retrieved and samples taken for a range of biological effects techniques. Samples were obtained on . Details of the scope of the workshop will be presented, along with the methodology of deep sea caging and the rationale for using in situ methods. A suite of bioassay and biomarker methods were used on the organisms retreived: MT induction, AChE inhibition, GST, histopathology, histochemistry, VTG, CYP mRNA, DNA damage, PAH metabolites, EROD, antioxidant enzymes, immunotoxicity and scope for growth. Preliminary results will be presented. More information can be found at the web-site for the workshop: http://www.niva.no/pelagic/web/. Key words: BECPELAG, caging, pelagic ecosystems, in situ |
