Monday, July 05, 2010
Blue Crab (graphic: University of Maryland)
The first signs of the gulf oil spill entering the food chain have been found in the larvae of blue crabs and fiddler crabs, say scientists with the University of Southern Mississippi and Tulane University. The introduction of oil into crab species is likely to spread beyond the crustaceans to other sea life that feed on larvae—a development that could go on for years.
Harriet Perry, director of the Center for Fisheries Research and Development at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, told the Biloxi Sun Herald: “Fish are going to feed on (crab larvae). We have also just started seeing it on the fins of small, larval fish—their fins were encased in oil. That limits their mobility, so that makes them easy prey for other species. The oil’s going to get into the food chain in a lot of ways.” She added, “It’s just overwhelming. I think a hurricane is easy compared to this.”
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Oil Found in Gulf Crabs Raises New Food Chain Fears (by Geoff Pender, Biloxi Sun Herald)
Oil Contamination of Crab Larvae Could Be Widespread (by Erik Stokstad, Science Insider)
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