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Article: Effects of common estuarine pollutants on the immune reactions of tunicates.
- Article from:
- The Biological Bulletin
- Article date:
- February 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Marine Biological Laboratory. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Introduction
Marine invertebrates can be profoundly affected by aquatic pollution. Detrimental effects have been identified using tests for acute lethality (e.g., 96-h [LD.sub.50]), toxicant bioaccumulation, anatomical and biochemical aberration, or altered biodiversity and abundance (Giam and Ray, 1987; Landis and Yu, 1995; Peakall, 1992). However, there is relatively little information regarding the effects of environmental contamination on natural immune reactions in invertebrates, even though modulation of the immune system may dramatically alter populations by affecting their resistance to infection (Anderson et al., 1990; McCarthy and Shugart, 1990; Roales and ...