The effects of mercury (Hg) concentrations ranging from 0 (control) to 1024 pg 1-' upon embryogenesis, survival, growth and metamorphosis of Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg) oyster larvae were investigated. Embryogenesis was abnormal in 50 % of the individuals at 11 pg I-' The 48 h LDS" for D-shaped, urnbonate and pediveliger larvae were 33, 115 and 200 pg 1-' respectively. The increase in was partially explained by the larval weight increase, although weight-specific tolerance to Hg was higher in smaller larvae. Growth, the most sensitive physiological process studied, was significantly retarded at 4 pg I-'. The metamorphosis rate was significantly reduced when competent pediveligers were exposed to 64 pg I-' for 48 h prior to the addition of the metamorphosis inducer epinephrine. The implications of the present results for monitoring pollution by utilising different bivalve larval stages are discussed.
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Beiras et al. (1994) studied this question.
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