ABSTRACT
Population effects on shellfish may be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct or acute effects result in mortalities when toxic contaminant levels in the environment exceed physiological limits (Figure 35). Indirect or sublethal effects can be more varied and interesting. Such subacute or chronic effects may include (but are not limited to):
To continue the process of subdivision, it now seems logical to separate the molluscs from the crustaceans in this treatment of pollution effects on shellfish, so that we do not constantly have to refer to exceptions. Some information is available on the quantitative effects of pollution on bivalve molluscs, but less on effects on crustacean resource species, and neither information set could be described as substantive.
