EXPOSURE TO ORGANOPHOSPHORUS INSECTICIDE (EKALUX EC 25) ALTERS OXYGEN CONSUMPTION IN THE FRESHWATER CRAB, BARYTELPHUSA CUNICULARIS
KEWAL JAISWAL *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, TULJARAM CHATURCHAND COLLEGE, BARAMATI-413102, INDIA.
DHIRA NAIDU *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, PHULSING NAIK MAHAVIDYALAYA, •USAD-445204, INDIA.
B. D. DFSHMUKH *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, PHULSING NAIK MAHAVIDYALAYA, •USAD-445204, INDIA.
R. SAROJINI *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, MARATHWAD4 UNIVERSITY, AURANGABAD-431004, INDIA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Effect of organophosphorus insecticide, ekalux on oxygen consumption in freshwater crab, B. cunicularis 0, 1, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours after exposure were determined. Lethal concentrations (LC50) were found to be 0.4677, 0.3236, 0.1648 and 0.1474 ppm for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively. An increase in the rate of oxygen consumption of B. cunicularis was found after exposure to 0.467, 0.323, 0.164 and 0.147 ppm of ekalux. The results indicate a significant increase in the rate of oxygen consumption, highest being after 1 hour, foll-wed by a sharp fall at 24 hours. The altered oxygen consumption was related to the concentrations of ekalux and the period of exposure.