Toxicity of the fungicide captan to the Dungeness crab Cancer magister

Abstract

Captan did not affect the survival of Dungeness crab (Cancer magister Dana) zoea exposed to 30 μg l^-1 during a chronic toxicity test lasting 69 days, but larvae were quickly killed (mean survival time = 9 days) in the same test by exposure to 450 μg l^-1 of the fungicide. Delay of molting occurred, however, for later stages at 30 μg l^-1. Survival of juvenile crabs was not reduced by exposure to captan for 36 days at 510 μg l^-1 or, in a second test, for 80 days at 290 μg l^-1. No deaths of adults exposed for 75 days to 340 μg l^-1 of captan were observed. Captan appeared to accelerate hatching of eggs at all concentrations tested from 100 to 10,000 μg l^-1. The development from prezoeae during a 24-h period was not inhibited by the fungicide, but at 3,300 and 10,00 μg l^-1, the two highest concentrations tested, developing zoeae exhibited a morphological deformity and were largely inactive. Under the prevailing conditions in the toxicity tests, the half-life of captan was estimated to be from 23 to 54 h. Because of the relatively low toxicity of captan to crab stages and its high rate of degradation in sewater, it is suggested that the agricultural application of captan near marine waters is not likely to affect natural crab populations or crabs in laboratory culture. Further-more, the prophylactic use of captan as a fungicidal treatment for Lagenidium sp. in larval crab cultures is considered safe when used at recommended dosages.