Differential toxicity of copper, zinc and lead during the embryonic development of Chasmagnathus granulata (Brachyura, Grapsidae).

LAVOLPE, M.; LÓPEZ G, L. ; KESSELMAN D. AND E.M. RODRÍGUEZ.

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY

PERGAMON PRESS

Año: 2004 vol. 24 p. 960 - 967

0730-7268

Abstract: Ovigerous females of the estuarine crab Chasmagnathus granulatus were exposed to copper (0.01 and 0.1 mg/L), zinc (0.05, 1 and 10 mg/L) or lead  (0.01 and 1 mg/L) during the whole, early or late embryonic development. None of the assayed heavy metals produced a significant mortality of females, neither a decrease in the number of hatched larvae nor the egg incubation time, but several morphological abnormalities were detected in hatched larvae. The abnomalities were classified in three categories: eyes, body pigmentary and body morphological abnormalities. The eyes and body pigmentary abnormalities, particularly those involving retinal pigments and chromatophores, showed the highest incidence by exposure to the assayed metals. In addition, embryos were more susceptible to copper and zinc during the late period of development, while the effect of lead was greater during the early period of embryogenesis. Some teratogenic effects observed in C. granulata embryos exposed to heavy metals could be considered as sensitive biomarkers for this kind of pollutants, particularly the hypertrophy and hypopigmentation of eyes, observed in the laboratory at a lead concentration as low as those reported for the natural environment. Keywords: Heavy metals, Chasmagnathus granulatus, Embryos, Larvae, Morphological abnormalities.