| Abstract: | Biological effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on marine organisms are dependent on their persistence and bioavailability, the ability of the organisms to accumulate and metabolize various hydrocarbons, the fate of metabolized products, and the interference of hydrocarbons with normal metabolic processes that may alter an organism's chances for survival and reproduction in the environment. In considering the long-term effects of petroleum hydrocarbons in the environment it is important to ascertain what biological effects may result in subtle ecological changes, changes in community structure and function, and possible impairment of fisheries resources. Although a wide range of stress indices have been proposed for monitoring pollutant impacts on marine organisms, no single index can provide the predictive capability to evaluate population or community changes. Understanding the relationship and integration of multiple stress indices should improve our capabilities of predicting long-term change at organismal and population levels before irreversible damage occurs at the community and ecosystem levels. |
