:: Volume 12, Issue 4 (2013) ::
IJFS 2013, 12 Back to browse issues page
Effects of mercury on embryonic development and larval growth of the sea urchin Echinometra mathaei from the Persian Gulf
E Sadripour , M. S Mortazavi * , N Mahdavi Shahri
, seddiq43@gmail.com
Abstract:   (9826 Views)
This study investigated the effects of increasing mercury (Hg) concentration on early developmental stages of sea urchin, Echinomethra mathaei, as a bioindicator. The toxicity test was carried out after the gamete released induction and fertilization in six concentrations of mercury within the range of 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 µg/L. Embryos samples were incubated for 30 h in control and test solutions. After incubation, the percentage of developed 4-arm pluteus larvae was recorded in each group and embryonic abnormalities were studied by a microscope. Results of this study indicate that exposure of embryos to increasing mercury concentrations lead to abnormalities such as changes to shape and size of pluteus larval arms and also arrested development in early embryonic stages. Furthermore, embryos were analyzed to determine mercury absorption by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry method (AAS). The median effective concentration (EC50) value calculated for mercury was 17/42 µg/L.
Keywords: Mercury, Sea urchin, Toxicity test, Echinometra mathaei, Persian Gulf
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Type of Study: Orginal research papers | Subject: Biology & physiology
Received: 2014/01/27 | Accepted: 2014/01/27 | Published: 2014/01/27


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Volume 12, Issue 4 (2013) Back to browse issues page