Journal of Environmental Biology

Evaluation of the effects of the metals Cd, Cr, Pb and their

mixture on the filtration and oxygen consumption rates in

Catarina scallop, Argopecten ventricosus juveniles

Alma S. Sobrino-Figueroa¹* and? Carlos C?ceres-Martinez²

¹Laboratorio Alejandro Villalobos, Departamento de Hidrobiologia. Universidad Aut?noma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa.

Av. San. Rafael Atlixco #186 Col. Vicentina C.P. 09340? M?xico D.F.

²Laboratorio de Cultivo de Moluscos, Universidad de Baja California Sur, Unidad Pichilingue

Carretera a Pichilingue Km 18. La Paz, B.C.S.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: coco@xanum.uam.mx

 Publication Data

Paper received:

20 January 2011

Revised received:

05 March 2013

Accepted:

05 September 2013

Abstract

In this work, we evaluated the effect of sublethal concentrations ( LC₂₅, LC₁₀ and LC₅) of cadmium, chromium, lead, and their mixture on the filtration rate and oxygen consumption rate of Catarina scallop, Argopecten ventricosus (Sowerby, 1842),? juveniles, in order to evaluate the use of these biomarkers as a reliable tool in environmental monitoring studies, because these metals have been found at high levels in water and sediments in the Mexican Pacific systems. An inverse dose-response relationship was observed when metal concentration and exposure time increased, the filtration rate and oxygen consumption rate reduced. The physiological responses evaluated in this study were sufficiently sensitive to detect alterations in the organisms at 0.014 mg l^-1 Cd, 0.311 mg l^-1 Cr, 0.125 mg l^-1 Pb and 0.05 mg l^-1 Cd + Cr + Pb? at 24 and 72 hrs. Cd showed the most drastic effect. The Catarina scallop juveniles were more sensitive to Cd, Cr and Pb as compared to other bivalves. The biomarkers evaluated are a reliable tool to carry out environmental monitoring studies.

 Key words

Argopecten ventricosus, Filtration rate, Heavy metal effects, Oxygen consumption rates, Scallop

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