Efeitos tóxicos do cobre no cardinal tetra (paracheirodon axelrodi schultz, 1956)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate copper s toxic effects on Paracheirodon axelrodi from the Rio Negro basin, to determinate the sensitivity to copper of the adults of this species in waters with low pH levels and low concentrations of dissolved ions, the analysis of Na+ unidirectional fluxes and finally, Cl- and K+ liquid fluxes, on these organisms. The obtained results show that: 1) this species is relatively sensitive to copper in waters with low concentrations of organic matter and ions. 2) these organisms are resistant to the copper s toxic effects in waters with high concentrations of dissolved ions. 3) they didn t show any inhibition to Na+ influx at tested conditions. 4) and that occurred an increase of the diffused losses of Na+, Cl- and K+ in organisms exposed to copper in water from Rio Negro.