Cadmium toxicity to rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L.)) larvae after short-term exposure

Abstract

Rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L.), larvae aged four days post-hatch and at the very beginning of swimbladder inflation were exposed to cadmium (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg dm^-3) at 22.0°C (± 0.5°C) for 24 h. Following exposure, the larvae were reared in pure water in a recirculating system at 25.0°C (± 0.5°C) for the subsequent nine days. Cadmium resulted in reduced larval growth and survival, retarded swimbladder inflation, and the delayed onset of exogenous feeding on live Artemia nauplii. All these effects were dependent on concentration. The differences between the effects of cadmium at the lowest and the highest concentrations were significant (P <= 0.05). The results demonstrated the highly toxic effect of short-term exposure to 0.1-0.3 mg Cd dm^-3 in rudd larvae.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:

Mgr Justyna Sikorska, Instytut Rybactwa Śródlądowego, Zakład Rybactwa Stawowego, ul. Główna 48, Żabieniec, 05-500 Piaseczno, Tel./Fax: +48 (22) 7562044; e-mail: justyks@infish.com.pl