Effects of Heavy Metals on the Hatching Rates of Brine Shrimp Artemia salina Cysts

The effects of heavy metals (Hg2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Cr3+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Fe2+. Ni2+, Zn2+, Mn7+, Mn4+ and Mn2+) on the relative hatching percentage of brine shrimp, Artemia salina were assessed. Artemia salina cysts (San Francisco Bay Brand) hatched in seawater containing various heavy metal concentrations. After 48 hours, the number of hatched nauplii were counted. A negative linear relationship between hatching rate of Ariemia salina cysts and heavy metal concentration occurred, except copper which conformed to a cubic model. The relative toxicities of heavy metals on Artemia salina cysts were as follows (Cu2+, most toxic; Mn2+, least toxic): Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Ni2+ > Co2+ > Mn7+ > Cr3+ > Cd2+ > Fe2+ > Hg2+ > Mn4+ > Pb2+ > Mn2+.