Effects of lead and cadmium on hatching of the southern king crab Lithodes santolla (Decapoda, Anomura)

Abstract

Summary Eggs of the king crab Lithodes santolla were exposed to cadmium (0.2 and 2 mg/1) and lead (0.16 and 1.6 mg/1) for 30 days. Concentrations used represented 1/10 and 1 of the respective LC50 values for zoea I of the studied species. Proportion of larvae hatching, meantime of eclosion and proportion of abnormal larvae were recorded. Abnormalities detected were hydropsy; small size; and atrophy of dorsal, rostral and telson spines, as well as atrophy of pereiopods and telson setae. The mean time of eclosion was inversely correlated to the incidence of structural abnormalities such as atrophy of spines and setae. These results suggest that both cadmium and lead caused an early eclosion of underdeveloped larvae, but while cadmium caused also a significant increase in hatching rate, lead produced a significant decrease in the proportion of larvae hatching.