The Dog – Whelk, Nucella Lapillus (L.) On The Rocky Shores Of Gower Peninsula, U.K. After The 1987 Tributyltin Restrictive Legislation.

Abstract

The occurrence of imposex female Nucella lapillus (L.) on the Gower Peninsula in 1992 with little development of the vas deferens (VDS) and very small relative penis size (RPS) suggests that, following the restrictive legislation for Tributyltin (TBT) in 1987, only residual levels of less than 1ng/1 remain in the sea water close to the relatively sheltered shores near the small boat Mooring, at Mumbles and near Swansea Docks. These results indicate that UK. Environmental quality target levels of less than 2 ng/1 of TBT has been achieved on the Gower Peninsular. In addition to the occurrence of the imposex females, the level of contamination on sheltered shores may increase penis bulk in males but is insufficient to (a) sterilize the females, (b) reduce population density, (c) affect the sex ratio or (d) to modify the shell characters of the dog-whelk. Some shell characteristics, however, change with variation in exposure to wave action. The more remote exposed shores appear to be free from contamination by TBT.The occurrence of imposex female Nucella lapillus (L.) on the Gower Peninsula in 1992 with little development of the vas deferens (VDS) and very small relative penis size (RPS) suggests that, following the restrictive legislation for Tributyltin (TBT) in 1987, only residual levels of less than 1ng/1 remain in the sea water close to the relatively sheltered shores near the small boat Mooring, at Mumbles and near Swansea Docks. These results indicate that UK. Environmental quality target levels of less than 2 ng/1 of TBT has been achieved on the Gower Peninsular. In addition to the occurrence of the imposex females, the level of contamination on sheltered shores may increase penis bulk in males but is insufficient to (a) sterilize the females, (b) reduce population density, (c) affect the sex ratio or (d) to modify the shell characters of the dog-whelk. Some shell characteristics, however, change with variation in exposure to wave action. The more remote exposed shores appear to be free from contamination by TBT.