The Marine Life Information Network

Substratum loss

Benchmark. All of the substratum occupied by the species or biotope under consideration is removed. A single event is assumed for sensitivity assessment. Once the activity or event has stopped (or between regular events) suitable substratum remains or is deposited. Species or community recovery assumes that the substratum within the habitat preferences of the original species or community is present. Further details

Evidence

Lanice conchilega lives in the sediment, a loss of substratum would cause a loss of the population. Therefore an intolerance of high has been recorded. A recoverability of high has been recorded (see additional information below).

Smothering

Benchmark. All of the population of a species or an area of a biotope is smothered by sediment to a depth of 5 cm above the substratum for one month. Impermeable materials, such as concrete, oil, or tar, are likely to have a greater effect. Further details.

Evidence

Lanice conchilega lives in the sediment and uses sand grains and shell fragments to make a tube that rises several centimetres above the sediment surface. It is therefore, unlikely that silt will smother the worm. It is also likely that Lanice conchilega will be able to move up through the extra sediment, therefore intolerance has been recorded as low. However, smothering by impermeable material is likely to result in anoxic conditions and have a greater impact.

Increase in suspended sediment

Benchmark. An arbitrary short-term, acute change in background suspended sediment concentration e.g., a change of 100 mg/l for one month. The resultant light attenuation effects are addressed under turbidity, and the effects of rapid settling out of suspended sediment are addressed under smothering. Further details

Evidence

Lanice conchilega is a deposit and/ or suspension feeder and unless the feeding crown is clogged is unlikely to be troubled by an increase in suspended sediment and tolerant has, therefore, been recorded.

Decrease in suspended sediment

Benchmark. An arbitrary short-term, acute change in background suspended sediment concentration e.g., a change of 100 mg/l for one month. The resultant light attenuation effects are addressed under turbidity, and the effects of rapid settling out of suspended sediment are addressed under smothering. Further details

Evidence

A decrease in suspended sediment may mean a reduction in the amount of available food for Lanice conchilega, however the protruding part of the tube affects the near bottom flow rate which can lead to an increase in sediment re-suspension (Jones & Jago, 1993) In any case, any adverse affect will lead to a loss of condition rather than mortality. Therefore, an intolerance of low has been recorded.

Desiccation

1. A normally subtidal, demersal or pelagic species including intertidal migratory or under-boulder species is continuously exposed to air and sunshine for one hour.
2. A normally intertidal species or community is exposed to a change in desiccation equivalent to a change in position of one vertical biological zone on the shore, e.g., from upper eulittoral to the mid eulittoral or from sublittoral fringe to lower eulittoral for a period of one year. Further details.

Evidence

Lanice conchilega is found on the lower shore and is therefore tolerant to some level of desiccation. It can retract into its tube, which can be up to 65cm long, avoiding the effects of desiccation. Only individuals at the upper limit of distribution are likely to be killed, therefore, intolerance has been recorded as intermediate. Desiccation is most likely to be a factor in coarse sands which drains rapidly.

Increase in emergence regime

Benchmark. A one hour change in the time covered or not covered by the sea for a period of one year. Further details

Evidence

Lanice conchilega tubes can be seen on sandflats at low tide. An increase in emergence may lead to an increase in predation by wading sea birds, an increase in exposure to desiccation (see above) and changes in temperature (see below). Intolerance has therefore been recorded as intermediate and a recoverability of high has been recorded (see additional information below).

Decrease in emergence regime

Benchmark. A one hour change in the time covered or not covered by the sea for a period of one year. Further details

Evidence

Lanice conchilega thrives in the subtidal zone and therefore could potentially benefit from a decreased emergence regime. It is possible that decreased emergence would allow the species to colonize further up the shore. Hence, tolerant* has been recorded.

Increase in water flow rate

A change of two categories in water flow rate (view glossary) for 1 year, for example, from moderately strong (1-3 knots) to very weak (negligible). Further details

Evidence

Increased water flow will remove finer sediments or possibly sediments altogether. It may also interfere with feeding. The distribution and extent of the population may be altered due to changes in the preferred substratum of Lanice conchilega. Therefore, an intolerance of intermediate has been recorded.

Decrease in water flow rate

A change of two categories in water flow rate (view glossary) for 1 year, for example, from moderately strong (1-3 knots) to very weak (negligible). Further details

Evidence

A decrease in water flow will lead to deposition of finer sediments and the possibility of reduced food supply. Changes in water flow rate are likely to change the distribution and extent of the population due to changes in the preferred substratum of Lanice conchilega. Therefore, an intolerance of intermediate has been recorded.

Increase in temperature

1. A short-term, acute change in temperature; e.g., a 5°C change in the temperature range for three consecutive days. This definition includes ‘short-term’ thermal discharges.
2. A long-term, chronic change in temperature; e.g. a 2°C change in the temperature range for a year. This definition includes ‘long term’ thermal discharges.

For intertidal species or communities, the range of temperatures includes the air temperature regime for that species or community. Further details

Evidence

No information was found regarding tolerance of Lanice conchilega to high temperatures. Lanice conchilega is found over a wide geographical range, in the Arctic, Mediterranean, Arabian Gulf and Pacific. Therefore, it is likely to be tolerant of a wide range of temperatures. An acute increase in temperature may result in physiological stress but is unlikely to lead to mortality. An intolerance of low has therefore been recorded.

Decrease in temperature

1. A short-term, acute change in temperature; e.g., a 5°C change in the temperature range for three consecutive days. This definition includes ‘short-term’ thermal discharges.
2. A long-term, chronic change in temperature; e.g. a 2°C change in the temperature range for a year. This definition includes ‘long term’ thermal discharges.

For intertidal species or communities, the range of temperatures includes the air temperature regime for that species or community. Further details

Evidence

Lanice conchilega is a species that is intolerant of low temperatures (Beukema, 1990). An intertidal population of Lanice conchilega, in the northern Wadden Sea, was wiped out during a severe winter of 1995/96 (Strasser & Pielouth 2001). The population took 3 years to fully recover, as there was low recruitment for the first 2 years. Crisp (1964) found there to be mortality of Lanice conchilega between the tidemarks but not at lower levels. After other hard winters Lanice conchilega recovered fast due to a good larval supply. Intolerance has, therefore, been recorded as high. Recoverability has been recorded as moderate (see additional information below).

Increase in turbidity

1. A short-term, acute change; e.g., two categories of the water clarity scale (see glossary) for one month, such as from medium to extreme turbidity.
2. A long-term, chronic change; e.g., one category of the water clarity scale (see glossary) for one year, such as from low to medium turbidity. Further details

Evidence

Lanice conchilega is found in estuarine regions which experience high levels of turbidity. An increase in turbidity would lead to reduced light penetration of the water column. Lanice conchilega is not light dependant, therefore, tolerant has been recorded.

Decrease in turbidity

1. A short-term, acute change; e.g., two categories of the water clarity scale (see glossary) for one month, such as from medium to extreme turbidity.
2. A long-term, chronic change; e.g., one category of the water clarity scale (see glossary) for one year, such as from low to medium turbidity. Further details

Evidence

Lanice conchilega is not affected by light availability therefore tolerant has been recorded.

Increase in wave exposure

A change of two ranks on the wave exposure scale (view glossary) e.g., from Exposed to Extremely exposed for a period of one year. Further details

Evidence

Rees et al. (1977) found that only 1% of the Lanice conchilega population in Colwyn Bay apparently survived after winter storms. An increase in wave exposure is likely to lead to a high mortality of Lanice conchilega, therefore, intolerance has been recorded as high. Recoverability has been recorded as high (see additional information below).

Decrease in wave exposure

A change of two ranks on the wave exposure scale (view glossary) e.g., from Exposed to Extremely exposed for a period of one year. Further details

Evidence

A decrease in wave exposure in combination with weak tidal streams will invariably lead to a decrease in food supply. If, however the wave exposure is decreased but there are moderate tidal streams it is unlikely Lanice conchilega will be adversely affected. Therefore an intolerance of low has been recorded.

Noise

1. Underwater noise levels e.g., the regular passing of a 30-metre trawler at 100 metres or a working cutter-suction transfer dredge at 100 metres for one month during important feeding or breeding periods.
2. Atmospheric noise levels e.g., the regular passing of a Boeing 737 passenger jet 300 metres overhead for one month during important feeding or breeding periods. Further details

Evidence

No information was found concerning the intolerance of Lanice conchilega to noise. However, it is unlikely to be affected by noise and vibration at the level of the benchmark

Visual presence

Benchmark. The continuous presence for one month of moving objects not naturally found in the marine environment (e.g., boats, machinery, and humans) within the visual envelope of the species or community under consideration. Further details

Evidence

Lanice conchilega lives in a tube and its visual range is probably very limited. Not sensitive has therefore been recorded.

Abrasion & physical disturbance

Benchmark. Force equivalent to a standard scallop dredge landing on or being dragged across the organism. A single event is assumed for assessment. This factor includes mechanical interference, crushing, physical blows against, or rubbing and erosion of the organism or habitat of interest. Where trampling is relevant, the evidence and trampling intensity will be reported in the rationale. Further details.

Evidence

Lanice conchilega inhabits a permanent tube and is likely to be damaged by any activity that penetrates the sediment. Ferns et al. (2000) investigated the effect of mechanical cockle harvesting (see extraction below). The tubes of Lanice conchilega were damaged but this damage was seen to be repaired. An intolerance of intermediate has therefore been recorded. A recoverability of very high has been recorded (see additional information below). This assessment is for minor abrasion or disturbance, major abrasion, or disturbance would be similar to substratum removal.

Displacement

Benchmark. Removal of the organism from the substratum and displacement from its original position onto a suitable substratum. A single event is assumed for assessment. Further details

Evidence

Displacement of Lanice conchilega would lead to increased risk of predation from flat fish (Ansell, 1995). Yonow (1989) observed Lanice conchilega re-establishing tubes immediately after removal from the sediment into a suitable sediment in the laboratory. Intolerance has therefore been recorded as intermediate.

Synthetic compound contamination

Sensitivity is assessed against the available evidence for the effects of contaminants on the species (or closely related species at low confidence) or community of interest. For example:

• evidence of mass mortality of a population of the species or community of interest (either short or long term) in response to a contaminant will be ranked as high sensitivity;
• evidence of reduced abundance, or extent of a population of the species or community of interest (either short or long term) in response to a contaminant will be ranked as intermediate sensitivity;
• evidence of sub-lethal effects or reduced reproductive potential of a population of the species or community of interest will be assessed as low sensitivity.

The evidence used is stated in the rationale. Where the assessment can be based on a known activity then this is stated. The tolerance to contaminants of species of interest will be included in the rationale when available; together with relevant supporting material. Further details.

Evidence

No information was found directly relating to the effects of synthetic chemicals on Lanice conchilega. However, there is evidence from other polychaete species. Collier & Pinn (1998) investigated the effect on the benthos of Ivermectin, treatment for infestations of sea-lice on farmed salmonids. The ragworm Hediste diversicolor was particularly susceptible, exhibiting 100% mortality within 14 days when exposed to 8 mg/m² of Ivermectin in a microcosm. Arenicola marina was also intolerant of Ivermectin through the ingestion of contaminated sediment (Thain et al., 1998; cited in Collier & Pinn, 1998) and it was suggested that deposit feeding was an important route for exposure to toxins. Beaumont et al. (1989) investigated the effects of tri-butyl tin (TBT) on benthic organisms. At concentrations of 1-3 g/l there was no significant effect on the abundance of Hediste diversicolor or Cirratulus cirratus after 9 weeks in a microcosm. However, no juvenile polychaetes were retrieved from the substratum and hence there is some evidence that TBT had an effect on the larval and/or juvenile stages of these polychaetes. The high mortality of polychaetes due to exposure to Ivermectin suggests a high intolerance to synthetic chemicals, but with very low confidence in the absence of direct evidence for Lanice conchilega. Recoverability is recorded as high (see additional information below).

Heavy metal contamination

Evidence

Crompton (1997) suggests the following concentrations of heavy metals would result in the mortality of annelids after short term (4-14 days) exposure:

• Hg 0.1-1mg/l.
• Cu 0.01-0.1mg/l.
• Cd 1-10mg/l.
• Zn 1-10mg/l.
• Pb 0.1-1mg/l.
• Cr 0.1-1mg/l.
• As 1-10mg/l.
• Ni 10-100mg/l.

Bryan (1984) suggests polychaetes are fairly resistant to heavy metals therefore intolerance has been recorded as intermediate. A recoverability of moderate has been recorded (see additional information below).

Hydrocarbon contamination

Evidence

Soft sediment communities and especially infaunal polychaetes are particularly effected by oil pollution (Suchanek, 1993). A 20 year study investigating community effects after the Amoco Cadiz oil spill of 1978 (Dauvin, 2000) found that a population of Lanice conchilega was established between 1978-84 but disappeared after 1985. An intolerance of intermediate has been recorded. A recoverability of moderate has been recorded (see additional information below) as oil may be retained in sediments preventing re-establishment of populations.

Radionuclide contamination

Evidence

No evidence was found regarding the intolerance of Lanice conchilega to radionuclide contamination.

Changes in nutrient levels

Evidence

Moderate nutrient enrichment may be beneficial but increased nutrient enrichment may result in a community dominated with opportunist species (e.g. capitellids). This results in an increase in abundance but a decrease in species richness eventually leading to abiotic, anoxic sediments (Pearson & Rosenberg, 1978). Intolerance has therefore been recorded as intermediate.

Increase in salinity

1. A short-term, acute change; e.g., a change of two categories from the MNCR salinity scale for one week (view glossary) such as from full to reduced.
2. A long-term, chronic change; e.g., a change of one category from the MNCR salinity scale for one year (view glossary) such as from reduced to low. Further details.

Evidence

No information was found concerning the reaction of Lanice conchilega to hypersaline conditions (>40psu). It is unlikely that Lanice conchilega would experience hypersaline conditions and therefore not relevant has been recorded.

Decrease in salinity

1. A short-term, acute change; e.g., a change of two categories from the MNCR salinity scale for one week (view glossary) such as from full to reduced.
2. A long-term, chronic change; e.g., a change of one category from the MNCR salinity scale for one year (view glossary) such as from reduced to low. Further details.

Evidence

Lanice conchilega is found in estuaries but in smaller numbers than fully saline conditions. Intolerance has therefore been recorded as intermediate as a decrease in salinity may lead to a reduction in population numbers. Recoverability has been recorded as high (see additional information below).

Changes in oxygenation

Benchmark.  Exposure to a dissolved oxygen concentration of 2 mg/l for one week. Further details.

Evidence

No information was found on the tolerance of Lanice conchilega to changes in oxygenation. However, Cole et al. (1999) suggest adverse effects on marine species at oxygen concentrations below 4mg/l and probable adverse effects below 2mg/l. Intolerance has therefore been recorded as intermediate. Recoverability has been recorded as high (see additional information below).

Introduction of microbial pathogens/parasites

Benchmark. Sensitivity can only be assessed relative to a known, named disease, likely to cause partial loss of a species population or community. Further details.

Evidence

No information was found on diseases of Lanice conchilega.

Introduction of non-native species

Sensitivity assessed against the likely effect of the introduction of alien or non-native species in Britain or Ireland. Further details.

Evidence

No information was found on alien species which may compete with Lanice conchilega.

Extraction of this species

Benchmark. Extraction removes 50% of the species or community from the area under consideration. Sensitivity will be assessed as 'intermediate'. The habitat remains intact or recovers rapidly. Any effects of the extraction process on the habitat itself are addressed under other factors, e.g. displacement, abrasion and physical disturbance, and substratum loss. Further details.

Evidence

No information was found that Lanice conchilega is extracted deliberately therefore not relevant has been recorded.

Extraction of other species

Benchmark. A species that is a required host or prey for the species under consideration (and assuming that no alternative host exists) or a keystone species in a biotope is removed. Any effects of the extraction process on the habitat itself are addressed under other factors, e.g. displacement, abrasion and physical disturbance, and substratum loss. Further details.

Evidence

Ferns et al. (2000) investigated the effect of mechanical cockle harvesting on intertidal communities, they found that the harvesting damaged Lanice conchilega as they live in permanent tubes and are therefore incapable of movement, they can however repair damage to tubes. Intolerance has therefore been recorded as intermediate. Recoverability has been recorded as moderate (see additional information below).