Collected reprints: Abstract 3250

Collected reprints

Abstract

Vranken, G.; Heip, C. (1986). Toxicity of copper, mercury and lead to a marine nematode. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 17(10): 453-457

Toxicity of copper, lead and mercury to the nematode Diplolaimella spec 1 is studied. Mortality responses obtained demonstrate high resistance to heavy metals. Population growth parameters as the intrinsic rate of natural increase and net-reproductivity are significantly depressed at copper-concentrations which cause no juvenile mortality. The lowest concentrations tested caused significant inhibition of development rate in both sexes. For this particular nematode species suppression of fecundity and developmental inhibition are more reliable criteria, determining non-exceedable limits with regard to environmental safety. Our tests show that nematode productivity may be significantly depressed at copper levels found in some areas of the North Sea.

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