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Abstract:
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This thesis is an attempt by the author to assess the suitability of Metapenaeus
dobsoni (Miers), an economically important crustacean species as a sentinel
organism of trace metal pollution. The results of detailed investigations on
seasonal variation, bioassay, accumulation and depuration of three metals viz.,
mercury, copper and zinc are presented and discussed.
The importance of trace metals in the aquatic environment and their present
status in the study area - Cochin backwaters, the significance of crustacean
fisheries, the species M. dobsoni and the objectives of the present studies are
described in Chapter 1. The methodology adopted during the investigation is
given in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 delineates the seasonal variation of Hg, Cu and
Zn in the edible and non-edible parts of M. dobsoni collected from Cochin
backwaters for a period of one year (June 1984-May 1985). The results of
bioassay experiments are given in Chapter 4. Kinetics of accumulation ,retention
and depuration of trace metals, their biological half-life, the influence of size
group and environmental factors are given in Chapter 5. The effect of these
metals on the physiological response of M. dobsoni viz. oxygen consumption
is included in Chapter 6. A summary and list of references are also appended. |