The effect of copper exposure during embryonic development on deformations of newly hatched common carp larvae, and further consequences

The study was done on common carp larvae, the embryonic development of which took place in clean tap water (control – K group) or at 0.2 mgˇdm3 of copper (Cu group). The experiments were carried out until the 20 day from hatching. Among newly hatched larvae four types of body malformations were distinguished: A – curvature of the spine, B – C-shaped larva, E – deformed yolk sac, G – shortened body. These deformations are not copper-specific, and were observed also in fish exposed to other heavy metals. Deformations that impair larval locomotion must adversely affect feeding efficiency, thus would reduce larval survival. That was confirmed by the results concerning survival of larvae fed Artemia sp. nauplii. Only the larvae able to take up exogenous food survived until the end of the experiment. Copper exposure affected survival of larvae. Starved normal larvae from control group survived 19 days and started to die from the 13th day.