Influence of different essential and non-essential metals on MTLP levels in the Copepod Tigriopus brevicornis

Because of their wide geographic distribution, position in the trophic chai n, rapid turnover, huge biomass and role in ocean biogeochemical cycles, co pepods are regarded as important marine test species. Tigriopus brevicornis Muller, 1776 is a shallow water benthic marine species (Crustacea, Copepod a Harpacticoida). The toxicity of essential and non-essential metals (Ag, C d, Cu, Hg, Ni and Zn) to Tigriopus brevicornis was determined by 96-h LC50 testing. Comparative crustacean 96-h LC50 data in the literature show that Tigriopus brevicornis is a sensitive species suggesting that copepods are g ood indicators of minimal lethal concentrations of metals. Groups of 1000 t o 1500 adult copepods were exposed for 1 to 14 days to metals at concentrat ions in water, 3 for each metal, considered realistic in comparison with th ose encountered in polluted environments and far below lethal concentration s, in order to avoid protein metabolism disturbance. The response of Tigrio pus brevicornis in terms of MT induction has been examined in specimens exp osed to metals. The induction of these proteins and their implication in de toxificatory mechanisms and trophic transfer are discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science Inc. All rights reserved.