The temperature dependence of the acute toxicity of heavy metals (cadmium, copper and mercury) to a freshwater pond snail, Lymnae aluteola L.
Abstract Responses of a freshwater pulmonate snail Lymnae aluteola L. to copper, cadmium and mercury were observed at four temperatures in the range of 15.0 C to 30.0 C. Acute static bioassays were carried out at 15.0 C, 20.0 C, 25.0 C and 30.0 C to determine the percent mortality and median lethal concentrations (LC50) and their 95 percent confidence limits. The acute toxicity of mercury, copper and mercury increased with the increase of temperature from 15Cto 30C. The 96 h LC50 values and percent mortality indicate that metals at 15Cwas least toxic while at 30C it was highly toxic.