EFFECTS OF COPPER ON THE 48-H EMBRYONIC-DEVELOPMENT OF THE BIVALVE SCROBICULARIA-PLANA

Static toxicity tests (20.5+/-1 degrees C, 24+/-2 parts per thousand s alinity) were run to assess the toxicity of copper to the embryonic de velopment of Scrobicularia plana (Mollusca: Bivalvia); the end point o f interest was the production of D-larvae after 48 h culture. While a nominal concentration of 10 mu g Cu l(-1) was not found to be toxic, a n EC(90) (concentration preventing 90% of the experimental population from achieving the end point defined) can be set at similar to 20 mu g Cu l(-1) For this end point, copper is indicated to be 16 times less toxic than the antifoulant tributyltin (TBT). Moreover, copper has pro bably little relation with the reported recent decline of S. plana thr oughout northern Europe.