Velasquez X., Morov A.R., Astrahan P., Tchernov D., Meron D., Almeda R., Rubin-Blum M., Rahav E., Guy-Haim T. (2024) Marine Pollution Bulletin, 203, art. no. 116402,   DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116402

ABSTRACT: The progressive establishment of gas platforms and increasing petroleum accidents pose a threat to zooplankton communities and thus to pelagic ecosystems. This study is the first to compare the impacts of gas-condensate and crude oil on copepod assemblages. We conducted microcosm experiments simulating slick scenarios at five different concentrations of gas-condensate and crude oil to determine and compare their lethal effects and the bioconcentration of low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (LMW-PAHs) in eastern Mediterranean coastal copepod assemblages. We found that gas-condensate had a two-times higher toxic effect than crude oil, significantly reducing copepod survival with increased exposure levels. The LMW-PAHs bioconcentration factor was 1–2 orders of magnitude higher in copepods exposed to gas-condensate than in those exposed to crude oil. The median lethal concentration (LC50) was significantly lower in calanoids vs. cyclopoid copepods, suggesting that calanoids are more susceptible to gas-condensate and crude oil pollution, with potential trophic implications.