Accumulation of Copper in Different Tissues and Changes inOxygen Consumption Rate in Indian Flying Barb, Esomus danricus (Hamilton-Buchanan) Exposed to Sub-lethal Concentrations of Copper

In the present work, the accumulation pattern of sub-lethal doses (0.005, 0.0025 and 0.001 μgl-1) of copper (Cu) in different tissues of Indian flying barb, Esomus danricus and its influence on the rate of oxygen consumption of this fish at the end of 28 days of exposure were studied. It was found that the pattern of accumulation changed with concentration. Cu concentration increased in all the tissues except bone and brain and the rate of uptake of Cu increased with time in the gill, liver and flesh but remained same in kidney. Treatment of 0.005 and 0.0025 μgl-1 of Cu produced significant decline in the rates of oxygen consumption of the fish at all exposure duration, while treatment of 0.001 μgl-1 produced similar decline only after 14 days of exposure when compared to control. Higher doses of exposure had more severe effects