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Survival and growth of bivalve larvae under heavy-metal stress

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Abstract

In a study of the toxicity of mercury, silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to larvae of the American oyster Crassostrea virginica and hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria, the concentrations at which 5% (LC5), 50% (LC50), and 95% (LC95) of the larvae died were determined, as well as growth at the LC5 and LC50 values. The order of toxicity for oyster larvae was Hg>Ag>Cu>Ni, and for clam larvae Hg>Cu>Ag>Zn>Ni. Growth of larvae of both species, with the exception of clam larvae in nickel-treated water, was not reduced at the LC5 values, but was markedly reduced at the LC50 values.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northeast Fisheries Center, Milford Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, Milford, Connecticut, USA

    A. Calabrese, J. R. MacInnes, D. A. Nelson & J. E. Miller

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  1. A. Calabrese
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  2. J. R. MacInnes
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  3. D. A. Nelson
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  4. J. E. Miller
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Communicated by M.R. Tripp, Newark

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Calabrese, A., MacInnes, J.R., Nelson, D.A. et al. Survival and growth of bivalve larvae under heavy-metal stress. Mar. Biol. 41, 179–184 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394024

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394024

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