Reduction in carbon flux in Mya arenaria caused by a spill of No. 6 fuel oil

Rates of respiration, assimilation and filtration have been determined on a monthly basis for two populations of Mya arenaria in Casco Bay, Maine (USA), one of which was heavily oiled by a spill of No. 6 fuel oil. Monthly estimates of carbon flow have been calculated from these data. The same general trends were seen in each population; small negative carbon flow in winter, large negative carbon flow during the spring; large positive carbon flow during summer. However, the oiled population gained carbon at only 50% of the rate seen in the unoiled population. This difference results from the uptake of hydrocarbons by the oiled population.