Some effects of sub-lethal concentrations of copper on a marine copepod

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were carried out to the influence of different concentrations of copper in feeding and respiratory rates, fecundity and longevity of the marine planktonic copepod Acartia clausi, taken from a polluted and a clean area of the Saronic gulf (Greece). In the range of copper concentrations 0.001 to 0.01 mg l. −1, all tested activities of the animals coming from the clean region seem affected. Feeding acitity, longevity and fecundity showed a progressive reduction from 0.001 to 0.01 mg l. −1 On the other hand oxygen consumption rates showed a continuous increase at the same range of concentrations. The pollution-adapted population of Acartia seems more resistant to sub-lethal copper stress. Although longevity and respiration were affected in all concentrations used (the reaction was of the same kind as for the animals from the clean region), ingestion rate was not affected at 0.001 mg l. −1 decreasing at higher concentrations. The fecundity of the pollution-adapted population is higher than that of the clean area, shows a slight increase at 0.001 and 0.0025 mg l. −1 dropping about to the control animals fecundity level at 0.01 mg l. −1