The relationship between the copper complexing capacity of sea water and copper toxicity in shrimp zoeae

Mortality of larval coon-stripe shrimp, Pandalus danae, was related to labile copper and the copper complexing capacity of sea water, as measured by differential pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV). In nominal treatments of control, 5 and 10μg/litre Cu which contained less than 1·0μg/litre ASV labile Cu, zoeal development was usually complete. In treatments of 20 and 50μg/litre Cu which contained more than 7·0μg/litre ASV labile Cu, most larvae died while in the first zoeal stage. ASV labile Cu was related to the copper complexing capacity of sea water. Copper toxicity at less than 1·0 μg/litre ASV labile Cu is indicated by moulting delay and apparent Cu accumulation in zoea of the 5 and 10μg/litre Cu nominal treatments.