Effect of temperature on heavy metal toxicity to juvenile crayfish,Orconectes immunis (Hagen)

Abstract

The acute toxicity of four selected heavy metals to juvenile crayfish Orconectes immunis (Hagen) (1-2 g wet body wt. each) at room temperature increased in the following order: cadmium (x3) < copper (x10) < zinc (x2) < lead. The toxicity of these metals to crayfish acclimated at 17, 20, 23/24, and 27 degrees C increased with temperature (by 7-20% between 20 and 24 degrees C and 14-26% between 20 and 27 degrees C) as judged by the lowering of LT(50) (time to kill 50% of test animals at a fixed concentration) values. A 4 degrees C rise in temperature (from 20 to 24 degrees C), which increased the toxicity of copper by about 7%, increased the rate of oxygen consumption by about 34%. Heavy metals inhibited the rate of oxygen consumption at all temperatures. In 20 degrees C-acclimated crayfish, copper caused about 17% inhibition of oxygen consumption compared to about 7-12% by other metals including the most toxic cadmium. A 3-4 degrees C rise in temperature tripled the inhibitory effect of copper (20%), cadmium and zinc (26 and 18%, respectively), but not of lead, on oxygen consumption. A 7 degrees C-rise in temperature (from 20 to 27 degrees C) increased the inhibitory effect of heavy metals, including lead, on oxygen consumption by up to 54% in the case of copper. The data indicate that rising global temperatures (currently 0.60 degrees C) associated with climate change can have the potential to increase the sensitivity of aquatic animals to heavy metals in their environment.

Phylogenetic signal in amphibian sensitivity to copper sulfate relative to experimental temperature

“…Studies on the effects of higher temperature on copper toxicity indicate contrasting results in some species of mussels, crustaceans, and fish (e.g., Richards and Beitinger 1995, Rao and Khan 2000, Boeckman and Bidwell 2006, Carvalho and Fernandes 2006, Khan et al 2006, Hansen et al 2009). Our results indicate that, overall, an increase in temperature is associated with lower sensitivity to copper sulfate across a sample of 11 amphibian species.…”

The effect of copper and temperature on juveniles of the eurybathic brittle star Amphipholis squamata – Exploring responses related to motility and the water vascular system

“…With increased global concern associated with the effects of climate change there has been increased focus on exploring the interactions of temperature and toxicity on marine organisms (e.g. Khan et al, 2006;Sokolova and Lannig, 2008), however, the majority of these studies have explored toxicity at increased temperatures or at the upper thermal limit of the thermal tolerance zone (TTZ) of a species. This has resulted in much of the temperature and toxicity research effort being invested in studies at higher temperature, with little focus on the effect of trace metals at lower temperatures and at the lower range of an organism's TTZ.…”

Histological analysis of acute toxicity of 2,4-diclorophenoxy acetic acid in ovary of zebrafish

“…The other estrogenic compound, bisphenol A, may lead to problems in either mating or sexual behavior due to the difference in growth and disparity of sexual maturation between male and female fish (Na et al 2002). 2,4-D caused significant induction of vitelogenin, which was reported by Khan et al (2006). According to Sarıkaya and Yılmaz (2003), the acute toxic effects of 2,4-D on C. carpio (L. 1758) estimating LC50 values as well as the behavioral changes in the fish subjected to different concentrations of 2,4-D.…”