Abstract
The eggs of Fundulus heteroclitus from Piles Creek (PC), a polluted environment, were compared to those from a reference population from relatively unpolluted waters on eastern Long Island (LI). We have shown in a previous study that PC embryos had a higher resistance to meHg (methylmercuric chloride) than LI embryos but not to Hg (inorganic mercuric chloride). Twenty minute exposures of eggs prior to insemination likewise showed PC eggs were more tolerant to 1.0mg l-1 meHg but more susceptible to 1.0mg l-1 Hg and also remained viable in clean sea water for a longer time than LI eggs. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the reduced insemination success after egg exposure to meHg was due to artificial activation, due to rupture of cortical vesicles and blockage of the micropyle. On the other hand, inorganic mercury produced very different morphological effects. Eggs exposed to Hg showed a swelling of the micropylar lip and a decrease in its diameter, which may have led to the reduction in insemination.
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