Selection of allozyme genotypes of two species of marine gastropods (genus Littorina) in experiments of environmental stress by nonionic detergent and crude oil-surfactant mixtures

Two marine gastropods, Littorina punctata and L. neritoides were exposed in laboratory experiments to the controlled environmental stress of pollution by detergent and by crude oil-detergent mixtures in aqueous solutions. The allozyme frequencies of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) were tested in both species and amino-peptidase (AP) only in L. neritoides. Our results indicate differential survivorship of allozyme genotypes for both species, both types of pollution and both enzymes observed. These results indicate the sensitivity of allozymes to environmental stress, reflect the adaptive nature of some allozymes, and support the idea that allozymes could be used as detectors of organic pollutants in the sea.