Effects of heavy metal ions on larval Penaeus chinensis and comparative study on their elimination methods

In order to establish a new method to eliminate toxicities of heavy metal ions to larval penaeid shrimp, the effects of copper, zinc, lead and cadmium ions on larval metamorphosis of Penaeus chinensis at each stage were determined in detail, and two methods eliminating toxicities were compared. The results indicate that sensitivity of larvae to heavy metal ions decreases in the order of nauplii, protozoea, mysis and postlarvae. The phytoplankton food can reduce, by chetating, the toxicities of heavy metal ions. Both EDTA chelation and PHMA absorption can be used to eliminate the toxicities effectively and there is no significant difference between the two methods. EDTA is harmful to larval P. chinensis at high concentration but affects neither survival nor metamorphosis at below 10 mg/dm³. It is preliminarily observed that copper and zinc ions at low concentration are beneficial to the development of larvae after protozoea stage. It is suggested that it is unnecessary to eliminate the effects of heavy metal ions in the culture of penaeid shrimp, under normal conditions after protozoea stage.