| Abstract: | The Aurelia Metamorphosis Test System was devised to use simple Aurelia polyps as indicator organisms for the detection of subtle effects of petroleum-related hydrocarbons and of Alaskan crude petroleum oil (ACPO) on developmental processes involved in strobilation initiation, differentiation of ephyrae, and genetic modification expressed through cloning. Compounds tested were ACPO, aniline, anthracene, benzanthracene, benzene, benzoa]pyrene, biphenyl, cresol, naphthalene, perylene, phenol and pyrene. Gross morphology of the ephyrae (patterning, numbers and appearance of structures), statolith and mematocyst numbers, and pulsing behavior were recorded using the light microscope. Selected ephyrae with teratological malformations were studied with the scanning electron microscope and swimming behavior was observed visually. The variety of subtle developmental, behavioral and genetic effects due to marine hydrocarbons detected using the Aurelia Metamorphosis Test System demonstrated that this test system could be used as an early warning system to detect subtle effects of other marine pollutants. |
