Effects of barium and cadmium on the population development of the marine nematode Rhabditis (Pellioditis) marina

Offshore oil and gas drilling often involves the use of fluids containing barium and traces of other heavy metals. These may affect the environment, but information on their toxicity to benthic biota remains scant. Here, we present results of a 10-day bioassay with the marine nematode Rhabditis (Pellioditis) marina at different loads of barium (0–10 000 ppm nominal concentrations) and cadmium (0–12 ppm) in the range of concentrations reported from drilling-impacted sediments. Barium did not affect the fitness and population development of R. (P.) marina at concentrations up to 300 ppm, but did cause a decrease in population abundance and an increase in development time from concentrations of 400–2000 ppm onwards. Increased mortality occurred at 4800 ppm Ba. For cadmium, LOEC and EC50 values for total population abundance were 2.95 and 8.82 ppm, respectively. Cd concentrations as low as 2.40 to 2.68 caused a decrease in the abundance of adult nematodes, indicating that assays covering more generations would likely demonstrate yet more pronounced population-level effects. Our results indicate that oil and gas drilling activities may potentially have important implications for the meiobenthos through the toxicity of barium and associated metals like cadmium.

► We use a marine nematode as a model for laboratory assays on the effects of heavy metals on benthos. ► Barium above 3600 ppm causes mortality, concentrations above 400 ppm cause fitness reductions. ► Cadmium up to 12 ppm does not cause mortality, but concentrations of a few ppm hamper maturation. ► Barium and cadmium at concentrations near oil and gas drills strongly affect fitness and survival. ► Evidence that juvenile nematodes are more sensitive to pollution than adults is equivocal.