<b>The effect of lead on artificial fertilization and incubation of gray jundiá (<em>Rhamdia quelen</em>) eggs</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v30i2.4703

Abstract

Aquatic environmental pollution affects the reproductive potential of various species of fish. The present experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of lead contamination of the water used in artificial fertilization and initial egg incubation of gray jundiá (Rhamdia quelen). Two assays were carried out distributed in randomly experimental designs, composed by six treatments, with four and six replications, for the first and second assays, respectively. The first assay consisted of the contamination of artificial fertilization water with 0.00; 0.01; 0.02; 0.03; 0.04 and 0.05 mg of Pb L^-1 and egg incubation in pure water. The second assay consisted of the contamination of artificial fertilization water and egg incubation water with 0.00; 0.15; 0.30; 0.45; 0.60 and 0.75 mg of Pb L^-1. Only the second assay was affected (p < 0.05) by the treatments, showing a “plateau” tendency until 0.25 mg of Pb L^-1. A linear reduction of the fertilization rate was verified in levels of lead contamination of water above 0.25 mg of Pb L^-1. Lead concentrations levels above 0.25 mg of Pb L^-1 cause deleterious effects on the artificial fertilization of gray jundiá.