The acute toxicity of Cu, metal bioaccumulation and ion loss in the cyprinodontiform Jenynsia multidentata, a highly eurihaline Neotropical freshwater fish of wide distribution in the Río de la Plata basin, was established during a 96 h static exposure. The median lethal concentration at 96 h was 229 µg Cu l-1. The effect of CuSO45H2O was tested in natural freshwater in two-liter Pyrex glass chambers at controlled temperature, with natural light and artificial aeration. During the first hours of exposure to concentrations above 130 µg Cu l-1, an increase in aquatic surface respiration, air gulping and erratic swimming were observed, showing evidence of the affection of the respiratory system. The concentration of Cu, Na and K in the whole body burden at the end of each experiment showed by correlation analysis Cu bioaccumulation and loss of Na+ and K+. The concentration of Cu in water was positively correlated with its bioaccumulation (r=0.79, p=0.06), and negatively correlated with the whole body burden of K+ (r=-0.84, p=0.037). K+ loss was positively correlated with Na+ loss (r=0.88, p=0.02). Cu LC50 for this cyprinodontiform seems rather low when compared to fishes often utilized in toxicity tests
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