THE EFFECT OF COPPER ON DEVELOPING EGGS OF HERRING, Clupea harengus L.

Abstract

Artificially fertilized eggs of Clupeaharengus were ex- posed to various concentrations of copper (0.01. 0.03 and 0.05 ppm) during development. The treatment resulted in (a) reduction in total egg volume (b) reduction in volume of the perivitelline space and (c) retardation in yolk utilization. Premature hatching occurred after 15 days. Many embryos died inside the egg and most of them died during hatching. Malformed embryos were unable to hatch successfully and found stuck to egg sac membrane.