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The toxicity of copper to the adult and early life stages of the freshwater clam,Corbicula manilensis

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Abstract

The copper sensitivity of adult and larval stages of the freshwater clamCorbicula manilensis was evaluated. In addition, copper concentrations were determined in adult clams exposed for 4 to 10 weeks to copper in a high-volume, flow-through bioassay. All bioassay systems utilized water that was low in total hardness and alkalinity.

The response of the clams to copper depended on life stage. Copper sensitivity of larvae decreased markedly in successive developmental stages. LC5024's of veliger and juvenile larvae were 28 and 600 μg Cu/L, respectively. The mortality of trochophore larvae exposed to 10 μg Cu/L for one hr was 91.5%. The sensitivity to copper decreased with increased amounts of larval shell deposition.

Adult clams were resistant to copper; the LC5096 was greater than 2,600 μg Cu/L. By comparison, the incipient lethal concentration (ILC, was lowless than 10 μg Cu/L. Adult clams accumulated more copper as concentrations in the water increased. Evidence was obtained for copper loss near or at death.

Labile and total copper, as well as the coppercomplexing capacity, in the bioassay water were determined; the majority of copper was present as labile species. Toxicity was related to the quantities of labile copper in the water.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, 94550, Livermore, California

    Florence L. Harrison, John P. Knezovich & David W. Rice Jr.

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  1. Florence L. Harrison
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  2. John P. Knezovich
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  3. David W. Rice Jr.
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Additional information

This work was supported by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Energy) and by the U.S. Department of Energy (contract number W-7405-ENG-48).

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Harrison, F.L., Knezovich, J.P. & Rice, D.W. The toxicity of copper to the adult and early life stages of the freshwater clam,Corbicula manilensis . Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 13, 85–92 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055649

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055649

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