Research Product

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of Kepone on the development of Callinectes sapidus from the time of hatching until the 1st crab stage was reached. For comparison, similar investigations were made to ascertain the effects of Kepone on larval development of Rhithropanopeus harrisii. Of the concentrations tested, 35, 50, 65 and 80 ppb Kepone were found to be sublethal and 95, 110 and 125 ppb Kepone were acutely toxic to R. harrisii larvae; whereas 0.1, 0.5 and 0.75 were sublethal and 1.0 ppb Kepone were acutely toxic to C. sapidus larvae. The duration of zoeal development and total time from hatching to 1st crab was in general prolonged with concentration in R. harrisii; whereas, in C. sapidus, no significant relationship could be detected between Kepone concentration and duration of zoeal development, but there was a significant relationship to 1st crab. The developmental stages in which the larvae are particularly sensitive differ in the two species.