The Effect of the Heavy Metal Mercury (Hg) Concentration on the Growth Rate of Pilsbryoconcha spp Mussel

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of heavy metal mercury (Hg) concentration on the growth rate of Pilsbryoconcha spp mussels and to compare the growth rates of Pilsbryoconcha spp mussels exposed to mercury at different concentrations. The type of research used is quantitative research with experimental methods. The study used a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 6 repetitions. The treatments were different levels of mercury, namely P0, P1 and P2 (0, 0.5 and 1 ppm). Data were analyzed for variations using ANOVA. If there is a significant effect, then proceed with the Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) with α 5%. The length growth rates in treatment P0, P1 and P2 (0, 0.5 and 1 ppm Hg) ranged from 0.12 to 0.22; 0.08-0.09 and 0.03-0.1 cm/observation or there is a decrease in the length growth rate from the control treatment of 0.16 cm/day to only 0.006 cm/day at P1 treatment, and the more decrease at P2 0.002 cm/day. The weight gain along observation is ranged from 0.071-0.349 g (P0), 0.031-0.077 at P1, and decreased at P2 reaching -0.03 to 0.006 g. The average daily length of mussel was 0.012; 0.006 and 0.004 cm/day in P0, P1 and P2 respectively.The average daily weight rate was 0.052 g/day in the P1 and -0.068 g/day in P2, while the control (P0) was 0.158 g/day. The average relative length of mussels was 0.02,0.01 and 0.007cm, whereas the average weight growth of mussel was 0.081; 0.024 and -0.035 g. Lengtht and weight growth rate of mussels in P0 and P1 treatment are not different significantly, but significantly difference in P2 treatment. This shows that mercury is very dangerous for the life of Pilsbryoconcha spp and can reduce the weight and inhibit length growth mussel during maintenance.