The muricid Thais distinguenda (ca. 1300 individuals) was collected from a pristine island in the Andaman Sea and tagged prior to translocation to an area of intense shipping activities. A minimum of 50 tagged individuals were recaptured 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 12 months after transplantation. The animals were separated into small (less than or equal to 25 mm) and big (> 25 mm) specimens based on total shell length and both incidence of imposex and body burden of butyltin (BT) were determined. After 3 months 16.7% of the small size and none of the big size class had developed imposex. After 5 months the incidence of imposex in the big and small size classes increased steadily with time reaching 86.4 and 80%, respectively after I year. Time after transplantation was significantly correlated with the incidence of imposex for the big size class (Spearman R-s = 1; P = 0.008); RPLI (Spearman R-s = 1; P = 0.008) and VDSI (Spearman R-s = 1: P = 0.008); and the small size class: incidence of imposex (Spearman R-s = I - P = 0.006); RPLI (Spearman R-s = 1; P = 0.006) and VDSI (Spearman R-s = 1; P = 0.007). The development of imposex was not significantly related to body size after five months (chi square P<0.001). The body burden of tributyltin was not significantly different between the two size classes (paired t-test) but the smaller animals had significantly higher concentrations of both dibutyltin (DBT; P < 0.005) and monobutyltin (MBT; P<0.001). The use of transplantation experiments in addition to imposex surveys and analysis of body burden of tributyltin (TBT) can enhance the interpretation of the results and understanding of the time scale involved with the development of imposex. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
The objective was to investigate how tributyltin (TBT) contamination resulting from the establishment of a new marina and increasing yachting activities at Phuket Island, Thailand affects the area. A minimum of 30 specimen of the mangrove dwelling muricid Chicoreus capucinus were collected at five stations 2 months before and 5, 9, 18 and 33 months after Yacht Haven Marina was constructed. Imposex measured as RPLI and VDSI were significantly correlated to duration of time after construction and distance from the marina. All females developed imposex close to the marina after 18 months, whereas no significant increase occurred at stations more than 2 km from the marina. To evaluate the range of effects of the increasing yachting activities the muricid Thais distinguenda was used as an indicator of imposex at two popular mooring sites for yachts at Phi Phi and Raja Island in Phangna Bay, Thailand. The incidence of imposex was 100% at stations close to the mooring sites. A significant correlation existed between the distance from the sites and the incidence of imposex. The increasing incidence of imposex suggest that TBT contamination is worsening, against global trends, because regulations prohibiting the use of TBT-based paints, do not exist in Thailand.
The present investigation is the most extensive survey of imposex in gastropods from the west coast of Thailand. Imposex in Thais distinguenda increased significantly (p < 0.001; Chi Square test for trend) from 1996 to 2000 at 21 stations in Phangna Bay, Thailand. Females with imposex increased, extending from 3.5 km in 1996 to 10 km from the harbour areas in 1999 and 2000. Increasing intensity of imposex was also observed for Thais bitubercularis from 1996 to 2000. The less sensitive species: Morula musiva, Morula granulata, Morula margariticola and Thais rufotincta only developed imposex at the three main areas of intense shipping activities. T. bitubercularis and T. distinguenda are recommended as indicators of tributyltin (TBT) in Southeast Asia because of their sensitivity and wide distribution in the region. The results suggest that TBT contamination is worsening, against global trends, because regulations prohibiting the use of TBT-based paints, do not exist in Thailand.
