Karam, Q., M. Ali, Y. Al-Enezi, H. Taqi, S. Al-Dufailij, A. Al-Senafi, A. Taqi, W. Al-Rashed, L. Al-Musallam & N. Annabi-Trabelsi. (2025). The ecotoxicity of dispersed and undispersed crude oil on Euterpina acutifrons (Copepoda, Harpacticoida). Crustaceana. 98(4):453-466. Jun 2025.

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10.1163/15685403-bja10469 [view]

Karam, Q., M. Ali, Y. Al-Enezi, H. Taqi, S. Al-Dufailij, A. Al-Senafi, A. Taqi, W. Al-Rashed, L. Al-Musallam & N. Annabi-Trabelsi

2025

98(4):453-466. Jun 2025

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Oil spills pose severe threats to marine life, risking ecological damage. Oil dispersants are used to combat spills, yet their toxic effects on indigenous species, like copepods in the northwestern Arabian Gulf, remain unknown. This study explores the acute toxicity of the water-accommodated fraction (WAF) as well as of the chemically enhanced WAF (CEWAF) of Kuwait Crude Oil (KCO) on the copepod Euterpina acutifrons, focusing on egg-hatching success (EHS), nauplius survival was the most toxic to adult copepods, followed by Finasol (R) CEWAF, then KCO WAF with the least toxicity. These findings highlight copepod susceptibility to dispersed and undispersed oil, endorsing E. acutifrons as a bioindicator for oil-polluted waters. Differing toxicity levels suggest careful consideration of chemical dispersant risk assessments when responding to marine oil spills. This study is the first to document the effects of dispersed and undispersed KCO on zooplankton.

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