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Chronic Effects of Copper on Survival, Growth, and Reproduction of the Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Author(s) -
Benoit D. A.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1975)104<353:ceocos>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - liter , lepomis macrochirus , copper , toxicant , juvenile , biology , reproduction , zoology , larva , soft water , toxicology , toxicity , chemistry , ecology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , endocrinology , organic chemistry
During a 22‐month exposure of bluegills to copper in soft water, adult bluegill survival was reduced, growth was retarded, and spawning was inhibited at 162 μg/liter of copper (Cu). Tissue‐residue analysis of the gill and liver indicated that significant quantities of copper had accumulated in these tissues at test‐water concentrations of 40‐162 μg Cu/liter. Larval bluegill survival after 90 daysˈ exposure to copper was adversely affected at 40‐162 μg Cu/liter. The maximum acceptable toxicant concentration (MATC) for bluegills exposed to copper in water with a hardness of 45 mg/liter (as CaCO 3 and a pH range of 7‐8 lies between 21 and 40 μg Cu/liter. The mean 96‐hour TL50 for juvenile bluegills is 1,100 μg Cu/liter, and the application factor (MATC/96‐h TL50) lies between 0.02 and 0.04.