approach to the assessment of risk from chronic radiation to populations of European lobster, Homarus gammarus (L.)

The basic principles underlying a four-discrete age group, logistic, growth model for the European lobster Homarus gammarus are presented and discussed at proof-of-concept level. The model considers reproduction, removal by predation, natural death, fishing, radiation and migration. Non-stochastic e...

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Veröffentlicht in:Radiation and environmental biophysics 2010-03, Vol.49 (1), p.67-85
Hauptverfasser: Vives i Batlle, Jordi, Wilson, R. C, Watts, S. J, McDonald, P, Jones, S. R, Vives-Lynch, S. M, Craze, A
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:The basic principles underlying a four-discrete age group, logistic, growth model for the European lobster Homarus gammarus are presented and discussed at proof-of-concept level. The model considers reproduction, removal by predation, natural death, fishing, radiation and migration. Non-stochastic effects of chronic low linear energy transfer (LET) radiation are modelled with emphasis on ⁹⁹Tc, using three endpoints: repairable radiation damage, impairment of reproductive ability and, at higher dose rates, mortality. An allometric approach for the calculation of LD₅₀/₃₀ as a function of the mass of each life stage is used in model calibration. The model predicts that at a dose rate of 1 Gy day⁻¹, lobster population reproduction and survival become severely compromised, leading eventually to population extinction. At 0.01 Gy day⁻¹, the survival rate of an isolated population is reduced by 10%, mainly through loss of fecundity, comparable to natural migration losses. Fishing is the main ecological stress and only dose rates in the range 0.03-0.1 Gy day⁻¹ can achieve discernible effects above it. On the balance of radiation and other ecological stresses, a benchmark value of 0.01 Gy day⁻¹ is proposed for the protection of lobster populations. This value appears consistent with available information on radiation effects in wildlife.
ISSN:0301-634X
1432-2099
DOI:10.1007/s00411-009-0251-y