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Journal of Experimental Biology 26,113-124 (1949)
Published by Company of Biologists 1949

The Poisoning of Marinogammarus Marinus by Cupric Sulphate and Mercuric Chloride

W. RUSSELL HUNTER ¹

¹ British Iron and Steel Research Association; Marine Station, Millport

The toxicity, under various conditions, of cupric sulphate and mercuric chloride to the marine amphipod, Marinogammarus marinus, has been studied. With optimum conditions copper is virtually non-toxic over the range of concentrations studied (e.g. becoming effective as a poison on decrease in salinity or oxygen tension). The toxic action of mercury is not greatly affected by changed conditions. At very low concentrations, copper has a pronounced effect on animals undergoing mercury poisoning. Subtoxic traces of mercury have no effect on the course of copper poisoning. It is suggested that in M. marinus, mercury acts directly by poisoning of the protoplasm while the effect of copper is indirect, involving the upset of some metabolic process.

The relation of this work to other studies of the action of heavy metals is briefly discussed.