Effect of chemically contaminated marine sediment on naupliar production of the marine harpacticoid copepod, Tigriopus californicus

The harpacticoid copepod, Tigriopus californicus, was exposed to sediments from urban and nonurban bays, and subsequent reproductive success was evaluated. Two sediments contained high levels of aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons as well as metals, and a third contained elevated manganese levels. Females on contaminated samples produced a mean total of 291 nauplii per female compared with 337 produced by controls, representing a 13.6% reduction in offspring production over the entire reproductive lifespan. The time of peak production was delayed in these specimens. This species appears to be a good candidate for use as a test organism in a chronic effects sediment bioassay.