The use of cardiac monitoring in the assessment of mercury toxicity in the subtropical pebble crab Gaetice depressus (Brachyura: Grapsidae: Varuninae)
A. Aagaard, B. Styrishave, C.G. Warman and M.H. Depledge

Heart rates were monitored in the pebble crab, Gaetice depressus using a non-invasive, computer aided cardiac monitoring system. A high degree of intra- and interindividual variability was observed, as was the presence of endogenous circatidal and circadian rhythms. Both acute and sublethal toxicities of mercury were determined. LC50´s (96) for mercury were between 0.16-0.20 mg l-1. Exposure to HgCl2 above LC50 (96) (0.3 mg Hg l-1) resulted in rapid and statictically significant increases in heart rate whereas exposure to a concentration lower than LC50 (96) (0.1 mg Hg l-1) resulted in progressive reduction in heart rate similar to that of control crabs.

Contents of this volume Sci. Mar. 64(4) : 381-386 Back PDF
 
 
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