Effect of copper on hatching and development of larvae of the estuarine crab Chasmagnathus granulata (Decapoda, Brachyura)

Ovigerous females of the estuarine crab Chasmagnathus granulata were expose d to 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 3 mg/L of copper during the egg incubation period. Regarding egg loss, a higher effect was observed at higher copper concentr ations: 80% of the females lost their eggs at 0.5 mg/L, whereas no hatching was seen in those exposed to 3 mg/L. A significant decrease was found in t he number of hatched larvae in females exposed to 0.5 mg/L, as was a signif icant decrease in the duration of the incubation period. in addition, sever al morphological abnormalities were seen and observed. Hydropsy and atrophy of the dorsal spine, pleon, and maxillipeds occurred at the higher copper concentrations, as found in previous studies with other pollutants. Hyperpi gmentation of the cephalothorax and pleon was the only abnormality observed at every concentration assayed. Hypopigmented eyes were also evident. This pathology showed that among all defects observed at 0.5 mg/L, hypopigmente d eyes had the highest incidence and might be a specific response to copper .