Biological differences between sea waters: experiments in 1960

Abstract

The experiments during the 1953 season were arranged to investigate certain criticisms and suggestions made to us after publication of the earlier work (Wilson, 1951;Wilson & Armstrong, 1952), and there were included tests of our own devising intended to narrow the field within which must be made any search for an explanation of the observed biological differences between sea waters from different localities. We were again unable to obtain water from the Celtic Sea and once more, by kind co-operationof the Millport Marine Station, used water from the Firth of Clyde instead. Both the Eland Clyde waters were collected on the same day and the fertilizations of Echinus esculentuswere made and the experiments started 4 days later, which was the minimum time possible after collectionof the Clyde water. Every experiment included a control comparison of the two waters.One of the more interesting investigations last year was the effect on the larvae of Echinus of water passed through active carbon. Unfortunately further investigation, as detailed below (p. 351),showed that the sample of carbon used contained a significant amount of copper, and the results obtained may be therefore attributable to the presence of that metal. This was found by analysis of the carbon and checked by analysis of sea water passed through it and, later, by the addition of copper to sea water ina section of Exp. I below. Messrs Sutcliffe, Speakman and Co., on being informed of our observations, very kindly supplied a sample of activecarbon substantially free from copper with which wewere able to repeat last year's experiment with different results.In a review(

Preliminary Experiments With Sea Urchin Pluteus and Metamorphosis in Marine Pollution Bioassay

“…It has already been reported by many researchers (Waterman 1937, Wilson and Armstrong 1951-1961, Bernhard 1957, Okubo and Okubo 1962, Soyer 1963, Bougis 1961-1967, Hagstrom and Lonning 1973and Heslinga 1976) that the polluted sea water affects the pluteus formation in various sea urchins. Especially, Heslinga (1976) reports that the pluteus process appears to be very sensitive and therefore may be best suited to assess the stress by pollution in Echinometra.…”

The Distribution Of Some Plankton Animals In The English Channel And Approaches: III. Theories About Long-Term Biological Changes, Including Fish

“…It has been found that echinoderm larvae develop better in 'water in which a community of north-western forms had been living ('elegans' or 'western' water) (cf. Russell, 1935) than in water obtained from inshore off Plymouth or from areas with other plankton communities (Wilson, 1951;Wilson & Armstrong, 1961).…”

Overall summary and some conclusions from the Bremerhaven Workshop

“…Water quality bioassays A range of techniques were deployed at sea, and while they varied considerably in sensitivity, bioassays apparently responded to the 2 water masses in the Gerrrldrl Bighi (Becker et al 19921, diffeien:ititing the continental coastal water from the offshore water, as Wilson & Armstrong (1961) did in the English Channel. The ability to differentiate naturally occurring water masses in this way implies that sensitivity of bioassay techniques is adequate to detect significant contamination.…”