Oil and its residues can quickly trigger biological processes related to the changes that animals undergo during their development, altering the natural cycle and times. This is the result of an international study involving the University Institute for Research in Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems ECOAQUA.
Rodrigo Almeda from the Department of Biology and the Institute for Research in Marine Ecosystems and Sustainable Aquaculture (ECOAQUA, EOMAR Group), together with several international centers, is carrying out a research project that aims to validate for the first time how oil and waste can be produced and burned trigger the metamorphosis of marine invertebrate larvae.
According to research, these substances can quickly trigger biological processes related to the changes in these animals. In particular, metamorphosis artificially induced by chemical compounds present in oil can potentially have a negative impact on the survival and reproduction of marine invertebrates, depriving them of the opportunity to choose an ideal place for settlement and development.
Marine invertebrates affected by oil
Up to 80% of marine invertebrates have planktonic larvae, which play an important role in benthic recruitment – the recruitment and survival of animals attached to the seafloor – and the activity of marine ecosystems.
Experimental studies conducted after exposure to contaminants in microcosms and microscopic determination have shown that oil-induced induction of metamorphosis occurs in larvae of sea urchins (echinoderms) and sea snails (snails). These facts suggest that this effect is not limited to a specific group of invertebrates but can be generalized.
Some of these invertebrates, such as sea urchins, are keystone species that influence other species and regulate the patterns of coastal ecosystems.
The impact of oil on the life cycle of invertebrates has never been observed before, and researchers warn of its profound impact on marine invertebrate populations and on the biodiversity of coastal ecosystems both in the Canary Islands and around the world, given increasing coastal pollution due to from oil spills, petrochemical derivatives and other waste.
Reference:
Rodrigo Almeda et al. Environmental Science and Technology
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