INDIVIDUAL AND EQUITOXIC EFFECTS OF COPPER AND CADMIUM ON BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSES AND SURVIVAL IN CARP, LABEO ROHITA (HAMILTON, 1822)

Abstract

Acute toxicity of copper, cadmium individually and in combinations of Cu + Cd were studied in carp, Labeorohitaas a function of time. Mortality of fish was dependent on dose of metal exposures and exposure period. The behavioural changes of L. rohitawere found to be different when exposed to Cu and Cd individually and in combinations. It was more pronounced in test animals exposed to equitoxic levels of Cu + Cd followed by individual exposures of Cu and Cd, while it was completely absent in the control fish. The 96 hr median lethal concentration of copper, cadmium and combination of both in L. rohitawas 0.42, 0.78 and 0.39 ppm respectively. Similar trend was observed in 24, 48 and 72 hrs also. It manifests that Cu + Cd combination was more toxic than any one of the single metal solutions tested