Effect of copper on the survival of prelarvae of the Japanese anchovy <Emphasis Type="Italic">Engraulis japonicus</Emphasis>

The effects of copper on the prelarvae of the Japanese anchovy, Engraulis japonicus inhabiting the Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) were examined. The median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) and maximal ineffective concentrations (LC₀) for a 72 hour exposure measured in 2006 and 2007 equaled 8.5 and 0.5 μg/l and 96.3 and 0.7 μg/l respectively. For a 96 hour exposure, LC₅₀ and LC₀ equaled 68 and 0.9 μg/l respectively. The ability of copper to exert negative effects on the survival rate of anchovy prelarvae in areas with intensive anthropogenic pollution was shown.