Temperature-dependent physiological response of Carcinus maenas exposed to copper

The effect of temperature on the heart rate ( f H) of Carcinus maenas exposed to a sublethal nominal concentration (0.5 mg l −1) of copper is reported. Adult, intermoult males (4 cm carapace width) were collected from Stavanger Fjord (Norway) in August (seawater temperature=17 °C) and maintained in the laboratory (fed ad libitum) at 5, 15 and 25 °C for 7 days. Following this holding period, crabs were exposed to waterborne copper at the same temperature. After 3 days of exposure, individual f H was measured using the non-invasive Computer Aided Physiological MONitoring system (CAPMON) method. Copper-exposed individuals demonstrated significantly increased f H compared with controls at 5 and 25 °C ( P