Report: Beach snail Littorina littorea: Determination of intersex index; Coast of Lower Saxony (2007)»

Description

At 7 of the 9 stations, low levels of the intersex index and intersex incidence were found in 2007: Borkum Port Henry, Norddeich, Norderney Lütetsburger Plate, Spiekeroog Janssand, Wilhelmshaven Nassauhafen, Jadebusen Eckwarderhörne and Wurster Coast – Meyers Leegde. According to the classification system of the EU Water Framework Directive, these sites are in Class 2 (population in good condition) or in Class 1 (population in very good condition; Station Wurster Coast – Meyers Leegde). At 2 stations, higher intersex indices were measured between 0.43 and 0.55 and higher intersex incidences above 25 %: Norderney Port and Dorumer-Accumersiel Port. The populations at these stations are in moderate condition. A temporary remobilisation of TBT by sediment repositioning is considered as a cause. As in 2005 and 2006, several phenomena have been observed suggesting the action of endocrine disruptors: Distal enlarged or atypically shaped protein and capsule glands in female animals, semen ladders with reduced frequency of winding and reduction of penis length in male animals.’

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  • intersex-index-intersex-tbt-organozinn-schadstoffe-belastung-littorina-littorea-strandschnecke-nlwkn

Topics

  • ENVI

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