Abstract: | Laboratory exposures of the urchin Lytechinus pictus to sediment dosed with varying concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), but without elevated organic material, were conducted. Changes in mortality, behavior, growth and gonad production were measured during 49 days' flow through exposures. Hydrogen sulfide concentrations of 165·8 μ
liter−1 in pore water caused significant changes in all parameters measured. Concentrations as low as 32·9 μ
liter−1 caused significant decreases in wet weight and male gonad production. A concentration of 91·8 μ
liter−1 caused the mortality rate to increase 100-fold over control exposures (0·63 μ
liter−1). Sublethal effects on growth and gonad production could have been caused by either direct biochemical inhibition by H2S or secondarily through behavioral modifications. Hydrogen sulfide concentrations above 165·8 μ
liter−1 are common near sewage outfalls and could contribute to changes in species composition and sediment toxicity that occur there. |