Abstract
The effects of copper-enriched seawater on fertilization success, early cleavage, larval skeletal development, and survivorship of adults of the coral-reef echinoid Echinometra mathaei (de Blaiville) were tested. Fifty percent reduction of fertilization success and cleavage success to the 8-cell stage occurred in 0.18 and 0.42 mg added Cu++/l, respectively. Adults had respective 48- and 96-h TL50 values of 0.54 and 0.30 mg/l. Larval skeletal development was suppressed in 0.02 mg/l. The latter process appears to be very sensitive and may be the most suitable for assessing effects of stress on this species.
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Communicated by J.S. Pearse, Santa Cruz
Contribution No. 68, University of Guam Marine Laboratory.
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Heslinga, G.A. Effects of copper on the coral-reef echinoid Echinometra mathaei . Marine Biology 35, 155–160 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390937
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390937