Efecto subletal del cadmio en la ostra perla del caribe pinctada imbricata (pteroida: pteriidae) röding, 1798 | Sublethal effects of cadmium on the caribbeanpearl oyster pinctada imbricata (pteroida: pteriidae) röding, 1798

El efecto de la dosis subletal de cadmio 0,05 mg/L en la ostra perla del Caribe Pinctada imbricata se evaluo en organismos de tres tallas diferentes: juveniles de 10–20 mm, 40-45 y adultos > 75 mm. Los bioensayos estaticos se llevaron a cabo durante 7 dias con una renovacion del metal en el cuarto dia de exposicion. Al final del bioensayo, se evaluo la reposicion de la concha, masa de tejido, consumo de oxigeno y relacion ARN/ADN. No se observaron efectos significativos del cadmio en niveles subletales sobre la masa de tejido, indice de ARN/ADN y consumo de oxigeno, en cada una de las tallas. No obstante, a esta concentracion de cadmio se registro una disminucion significativamente en la reposicion de la concha en los organismos juveniles. La utilizacion de reposicion de concha en juveniles de P. imbricata es recomendada como indicador biologico para establecer pruebas de toxicidad. P alabras clave : Ostras perla Akoya, toxicidad, ARN/ADN, consumo de oxigeno, Golfo de Cariaco. ABSTRACT The effect of sublethal doses of cadmium 0.05 mg/L in the Caribbean pearl oyster Pinctada imbricata was evaluated in three different sizes: juveniles 10-20 mm, 40-45, and adults >75 mm. Static bioassays were conducted for 7 days with a renewal of metal on the fourth day of exposure. At the end of the bioassay, the replacement of the shell, mass of tissue, oxygen consumption and RNA/DNA ratio were evaluated. No significant effects of cadmium at sublethal concentration were observed in the tissue mass, RNA/DNA ratio and oxygen consumption in each of the sizes evaluated. However, at this concentration of cadmium a significant decrease was observed in the shell replacement in juveniles. The use of shell replacement of P. imbricata juveniles is recommended as a biological indicator in toxicity testing. K ey words : Akoya pearl oyster, toxicity, RNA/DNA, oxygen consumption, Golfo de Cariaco.