ASSESSMENT OF IMPOSER IN THE COMMON WHELK, BUCCINUM-UNDATUM (L) FROM THE EASTERN SCHELDT, THE NETHERLANDS

Several cruises weve carried out on the Eastern Scheldt between Septem ber 1992 and Match 1995 to study the frequency and appearance of impos ex in the common whelk, Buccinum undatum L. Incidences of imposer weve always > 90%. For the first time several stages of imposex in Buccinu m undatum are reported. The evolution of imposer in the whelk seems to follow a similar route as in Hinia reticulata belonging to the same s uperfamily (Buccinacea). Tissue organotin concentrations of animals co llected in February 1995 showed the highest organotin concentrations i n the digestive gland and lowest in the foot of the animals. Concentra tions of phenyltin compounds (up to 625 ngSn/g DW) were much higher th an those of butyltin compounds (up to 40 ngSn/g DW). Copyright (C) 199 6 Elsevier Science Ltd.