AUTHOR=Yu Xiang , Wu Fangzhu , Xu Xiaoqun , Chen Quanzhen , Huang Lin , Teklehaimanot Tesfai Berhane , Cao Liang , Xu Xudan , Dou Shuozeng , Huang Wei 

TITLE=Effects of Short Term Methylmercury Exposure on Growth and Development of the Large Yellow Croaker Embryos and Larvae

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 6 - 2019

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2019.00754

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2019.00754

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=The toxic effects of methylmercury (MeHg) on organisms have caused widespread concerns, but little has been reported on its effects in marine fish. This study investigated the acute and sub-lethal toxicities of MeHg chloride to large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) embryos and larvae. Acute toxicity tests showed that the 48-h LC50 values of methylmercury to the embryos and larvae were 28.39  (21.33-33.98) and 18.27 (11.33-29.29) μg L -1 , respectively, while the 96-h LC50 value for larvae was 9.28 (4.41-14.49) μg L -1 , indicating that larvae were more sensitive to MeHg than the embryos. On the other hand, MeHg could cause low hatching success, increase larvae heart rate at concentrations ≥ 20 μg L -1 , as well as delayed hatching process, reduced survival and higher morphological malformations at concentrations ≥ 10 μg L -1 to the embryos and larvae. Results showed that the early life stages of large yellow croaker were sensitive to MeHg exposure.