Ingestion responses of the copepod Tigriopus japonicus exposed to the water accommodated fraction (WAF) and chemically enhanced WAF (CEWAF) of crude oil

Abstract

The water accommodated fraction (WAF) and chemically enhanced WAF (CEWAF) by oil spills reduce the filtration or feeding of marine copepods. This study examined the feeding response of the harpacticoid copepod, Tigriopus japonicus exposed to WAF or CEWAF to understand whether decreased feeding of the copepod by oil exposure is induced by food avoidance or medium toxicity. In the medium without WAF, there was no difference in the ingestion rate of the copepod among all polluted diets those were exposed to different concentrations of WAF. The present of WAF in the medium however caused a decrease in the ingestion rate at 100% WAF treatment. In the mixed diet treatment with adhesive diatoms and Tetraselmis suecica, T. japonicus had significantly lower ingestion rate on adhesive diatoms than on others in the medium with CEWAF. As a result, decreased ingestion of T. japonicus by oil exposure was caused by not an avoidance of polluted diet but oil toxicity in medium.o WAF or CEWAF to understand whether decreased feeding of the copepod by oil exposure is induced by food avoidance or medium toxicity. In the medium without WAF, there was no difference in the ingestion rate of the copepod among all polluted diets those were exposed to different concentrations of WAF. The present of WAF in the medium however caused a decrease in the ingestion rate at 100% WAF treatment. In the mixed diet treatment with adhesive diatoms and Tetraselmis suecica, T. japonicus had significantly lower ingestion rate on adhesive diatoms than on others in the medium with CEWAF. As a result, decreased ingestion of T. japonicus by oil exposure was caused by not an avoidance of polluted diet but oil toxicity in medium.