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Threats to Habitat
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| Toxic Chemical Contamination |
Habitats Affected: Water column, shell bottom, SAV, soft bottom, ocean hard bottom
Common sources: herbicides, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals from agriculture, golf courses, urban development, marinas, fuels, automobile transportation, boating activity, and industrial emissions
Impacts
- Heavy metals, petroleum products, and other toxins can kill sensitive shellfish larvae, or lower reproductive success and growth, impacting shell bottom habitat.
- Toxins can accumulate in soft bottom, resulting in mortality or poor recruitment of benthic invertebrates or bio-accumulate in the tissue of top predators.
- SAV can be intentionally or unintentionally killed by spraying for aquatic nuisance plant control. See Introduced and Nuisance species for related information.
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