Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of zinc on the settlement of the oyster Crassostrea gigas

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The influence of zinc upon the pattern and success of settlement was examined in the oyster Crassostrea gigas. Late larvae were more tolerant of zinc than embryos. A delay in settlement was recorded in treatments containing zinc as low as 125 μg/l, and numbers of larvae settling was reduced in the presence of zinc. Larvae subjected to zinc immediately prior to settlement showed evidence of slowing in behavioural development. Those larvae which settled in the presence of zinc, however, when ongrown in clean water were as viable as controls. Zinc at concentrations of 250 and 500 μg/l suppressed spat growth, but recovery was rapid upon subsequent on-growing in clean water conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Bayne, B. L.: The gregarious behaviour of the larvae of Ostrea edulis L. at settlement. J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K. 49, 327–356 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brereton, A., H. Lord, I. Thornton and J. S. Webb: Effect of zinc on growth and development of larvae of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Mar. Biol. 19, 96–101 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Calabrese, A., R.S. Collier, D.A. Nelson and J.R. MacInnes: The toxicity of heavy metals to embryos of the American oyster Crassostrea virginica. Mar. Biol. 18, 162–166 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, H.A. and E.W. Knight-Jones: The settling behaviour of larvae of the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis L. and its influence on methods of cultivation and spat collection. Fishery Invest.,Lond. (Ser. 2), 17, 1–39 (1949)

    Google Scholar 

  • Connor, P.M.: Acute toxicity of heavy metals to some marine larvae. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 3 (12), 190–192 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hori, J.: Notes on the full-grown larva and the Japanese common oyster Ostrea gigas Thunberg. J. imp. Fish. Inst., Tokyo 22, 1–7, (1926)

    Google Scholar 

  • Prytherch, H.F.: The role of copper in the setting, metamorphosis and distribution of the American oyster, Ostrea virginica. Ecol. Monogr. 4, 49–107 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Walne, P.R.: Present problems in the culture of the larvae of Ostrea edulis. Helgoländer. wiss. Meeresunters. 20, 514–524 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Watling, H.: Some aspects of trace element analysis of river and estuarine sediments and waters, unpublished thesis, Diploma Imperial College 1974

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. H. Watling

    Present address: Applied Spectroscopy Division, National Physical Research Laboratory, P. O. Box 395, Pretoria, Republic of S. Africa

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Geochemistry Research Group, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, England

    C. R. Boyden, H. Watling & I. Thornton

Authors
  1. C. R. Boyden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Watling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. Thornton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by J. H. S. Blaxter, Oban

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Boyden, C.R., Watling, H. & Thornton, I. Effect of zinc on the settlement of the oyster Crassostrea gigas . Mar. Biol. 31, 227–234 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387151

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387151

Keywords

Search

Navigation