Temperature-dependent physiological response of Carcinus maenas exposed to copper

The effect of temperature on the heart rate (fH) of Carcinus maenas exposed to a sublethal nominal concentration (0.5 mg l(-1)) of copper is reported. Adult, intermoult males (4 cm carapace width) were collected from Stavanger Fjord (Norway) in August (seawater TEMPERATURE=17 degrees C) and maintained in the laboratory (fed ad libitum) at 5, 15 and 25 degrees C for 7 days. Following this holding period, crabs were exposed to waterborne copper at the same temperature. After 3 days of exposure, individual fH was measured using the non-invasive Computer Aided Physiological MONitoring system (CAPMON) method. Copper-exposed individuals demonstrated significantly increased fH compared with controls at 5 and 25 degrees C (P<0.01). It is inferred that physiological function in C. maenas may be more vulnerable to copper contamination at seasonal temperature extremes (5 and 25 degrees C) than at the 'standard' test temperature (15 degrees C). Additionally, cardiac arrest observed at 5 degrees C is interpreted as a physiological response to limit copper uptake while the erratic fH in the 25 degrees C group reflected enhanced copper toxicity.