PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFECT OF CADMIUM ON LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF CAPITELLA SP. B FROM BARCELONA

摘要

The effect of cadmium on survival, growth and metamorphosis of larvae of cultured Capitella sp. B were investigated. This is a poecilogonic species where two hatching periods occur. Larvae and juveniles produced during the first and second releases were exposed to 0, 57, 86 and 143 μg Cd g~(-1) dry wt sediment during a 31 d period. While no trend in individual survivorship was observed during the cadmium treatments, high concentrations provoked a delay in metamorphosis from metatrochophore to juvenile stage with a size reduction of non-metamorphosed larvae over the 31 d experimental duration. This preliminary study suggests that cadmium may be harmful to early development stages of Capitella sp. B producing a delay in recruitment into natural populations.