Pollution and the Biological Resources of the Oceans

Pollution and the Biological Resources of the Oceans discusses the problem of the pollution in the oceans, its effects on marine life, and the precautions observed by different countries and organizations. The book covers topics such as trends and objectives in ecological investigations of pollution; the migration of pollutants in marine ecosystems; the accumulation of pollutants in marine products; and the effects of pollution on marine organisms. The book also covers topics such as the strategies for pollution control - its general features, its different approaches, and the problems it face. An appendix listing the effects of different pollutants on organisms is included . The text is recommended for marine biologists, those working in organizations and agencies that deal with natural resources, and ecotoxicologists, especially those concerned with the effects of pollution on oceans and marine life.

Contents

Introduction

1 Principal Trends and Objectives in Ecological Investigations of Pollution of The World Ocean

General Situation

Biogeochemical Investigations

Marine Ecotoxicology

Biological Principles of Pollution Control

Conclusions

2 General Pollution Patterns of Ecological Zones in The World Ocean

Features and Tendencies of The Radio-Ecological Situation of the Marine Environment

Sources and Levels of Chemical Pollution

Ecological Characteristics of The Global Pollution Zone of the Marine Environment

Conclusions

3 Biogeochemical Features of Behavior and Migration of Pollutants in Marine Ecosystems

Forms of Occurrence of Toxicants in Sea Water 33

Principal Biogeochemical Features of Toxicants in Seas and Oceans

Conclusions

4 Accumulation of Pollutants in Commercial Marine Products

Introduction

Radioactive Pollution of Commercial Fishes

Heavy Metals in Commercial Fishes

Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Commercial Organisms

Conclusions

5 Experimental Methods, Organisms and Tests in Ecotoxicological Investigations

General Description of Methods and Test Organisms

Zones, Effects and Criteria of Evaluation of Toxic Effects

Quantitative Estimation of Toxic Effects

Ecotoxicological Methods and Tests For Investigating Unicellular Marine Algae and Their Production

Test Organisms and Methods of Toxicological Investigations On Important Species of Marine Fauna

Conclusions

6 Effect of Pollutants On Cultured Unicellular Marine Algae

Effect of Dissolved Petroleum Products

Effect of Organochlorine Toxicants

Effect of Detergents and Petroleum Emulsifiers

Effect of Heavy Metals and Transition Metals

Combined Effect of Several Factors

Conclusions

7 Ecotoxicological Investigations of Primary Production and of Natural Communities of Marine Phytoplankton

Effect of Chemical Toxicants On Primary Production in the Baltic Sea

Effect of Chemical Toxicants On Phytoplankton and Primary Production in The Caspian Sea

Ecotoxicological Investigations of Phytoplankton in the Mediterranean Sea and in The Red Sea

Conclusions

8 Biological Evaluation of The Effect of Chemical Toxicants On Marine Fauna

Toxicological Investigations On Marine Crustaceans

Experiments On Polychaeta and Mollusca

Experiments On Fishes

Conclusions

9 General Features of The Effects of The Most Widely Distributed Toxicants On Different Groups of Marine Organisms

Basic Assumptions

Biological Effects of Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Other Organic Toxicants

Petroleum and Petroleum Compounds

Biological Effect of Heavy Metals and Transition Metals

General Features of The Biological Effects of Toxicants and Size Structure of Inhabitants of The World Ocean

Conclusions

10 Biological Consequences of Global Pollution of The Marine Environment

General Characteristics of Biological and Ecological Effects of Pollution

'Ecological Targets' of Disturbing Factors in Marine Communities

Character and Scale of Biological Consequences of Chemical Pollution of The Marine Environment

Conclusions

11 Ecotoxicological Control and Biological Norms of Pollutants in the Marine Environment

System of Marine Ecotoxicological Bio-Assays

Permissible Levels of Toxicant Concentrations in the Marine Environment

Conclusions

12 Ecological Aspects of Protection of The World Ocean From Pollution

General Problems of Strategy of Pollution Control

Selected Tasks and Possibilities of Applied Ecology and Toxicology

General Features and Special Aspects of Bio-Assaying Natural Waters and Sewage Effluents

Regional Approach To Protection of The Marine Environment From Pollution

Conclusions

Postscript

Appendixes

1 Effect of Oil On Marine Organisms

2 Effect of Surfactants (Detergents) On Marine Organisms

3 Effect of Emulsifiers and Other Surface-Active Compounds Applied in the Control of Oil Spills On Marine Organisms

4 Effect of DDT, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) and Other Organochlorine Compounds On Marine Organisms

5 Effect of Mercury On Marine Organisms

6 Effect of Copper On Marine Organisms

7 Effect of Zinc On Marine Organisms

8 Effect of Lead On Marine Organisms

9 Effect of Cadmium On Marine Organisms

References

Index