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Vol. 53 - Alaska Resources Library and Information Services

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detected by chemosensory organs. Pearson, et al. (1980) demonstrated<br />

that Dungeness crab can detect hydrocarbons at a level of a few ug 1[superscript]-<br />

Following an oil spill, water concentrations may exceed 100-200 ug 1[superscript]-1<br />

(Hood <strong>and</strong> Calder 1981), <strong>and</strong> might impair chemosensory location of<br />

females or otherwise alter behavior to reduce breeding within the<br />

population.<br />

Developing Eggs<br />

Although larvae are pelagic, the eggs from which they hatch <strong>and</strong> their<br />

prior embryonic development occurs in the benthos <strong>and</strong> spans up to 11<br />

months for red king crab.<br />

Uptake of hydrocarbons by eggs directly<br />

from bottom or interstitial water may adversely affect development of<br />

embryos. No studies of direct hydrocarbon uptake by crab or shrimp eggs<br />

<strong>and</strong> embryos are available, but transfer of naphthalenes to brooding eggs<br />

(high in lipids) was reported to occur in the marine polychaete Neanthes<br />

arenaceodentata (Rossi <strong>and</strong> Anderson 1977), while absorption from sea<br />

water occurred (independent of adults) in eggs of the Pacific herring<br />

(Eldridge, et al. 1978). The lethal effect such exposure can have on<br />

developing embryos was shown by Tatem (1977)<br />

who subjected gravid female<br />

shrimps (Palaemonetes pugio) to 1.44 mg 1[superscript]-1<br />

WSF for 72 hours.<br />

week later control females released an average of 45 larvae each while<br />

those exposed to oil released only nine each.<br />

One<br />

Further studies of oil<br />

toxicity to developing eggs is warranted in light of possible oil impact<br />

to red <strong>and</strong> blue king crabs that reproduce in relatively shallow, nearshore<br />

areas.<br />

Since oil degrades slowly in the sediments of very cold<br />

arctic waters (Butler <strong>and</strong> Levy 1978; Curl <strong>and</strong> Manen 1982; Mayo, et al.<br />

1978), <strong>and</strong> since female king crabs brood eggs for 11 months, protracted<br />

exposure of eggs to hydrocarbons can result from oil spills that reach<br />

reproductive grounds.<br />

In oil spill scenarios discussed at North Aleutian Shelf synthesis<br />

meeting (Thornsteinson, in press) <strong>and</strong> in previous discussions in this<br />

section, the greatest threat from oil to developing eggs comes in the<br />

408

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