Effects of cadmium on survival and bioenergetics of juvenile Callinectes sapidus at different salinities
- Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, FL (United States). Gulf Breeze Environmental Research Lab.
- Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA (United States). Dept. of Zoology and Physiology
Juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, from the Barataria estuary (Louisiana, USA) were exposed to a range of dissolved cadmium concentrations at 2.5 and 25{degree}/ooS to determine their response to cadmium. 21-day LC{sub 50}`s were an order of magnitude lower at 2.5{degree}/oo (19ppb) than at 25{degree}/oo (186ppb). Crabs were exposed to Cd levels of 0, 50 and 100ppb for measurements of physiological rates. Respiration was the primary component (x = 86.2%) of the energy expenditure budget in all cases, relative to excretion. Rates of energy expenditure did not vary with cadmium concentration at either salinity and were much lower than those of energy consumption and absorption. Scope for growth paralleled energy consumption and absorption. Scope for growth did not vary as a function of cadmium concentration at 25{degree}/ooS; at 2.5{degree}/ooS, however, scope for growth was significantly lower in crabs exposed to 50 and 100ppb Cd relative to control crabs. Cadmium levels of up to 100ppb do not stress juvenile blue crabs at 25{degree}/ooS; but at 2.5{degree}/ooS, these same levels of Cd result in mortality and sub-lethal stress. This finding is important since nursery grounds for juveniles of this species often lie in low salinity, estuarine waters, and dissolved cadmium levels as high as 50ppb have been reported in Louisiana estuaries.
- OSTI ID:
- 392349
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Species profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Gulf of Mexico): Blue crab. [Callinectes sapidus]
Concentration of HCB in Callinectes sapidus from the Calcasieu Estuary, Louisiana