1. -t/
Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication no. 19(1): 165-168 (1999) 165
EFFECTS OF SALINITY-CYANIDE INTERACTION ON THE
MORTALITY OF ABALONE HALIOTIS UARIA
(IIALIOTIDAE : GASTROPODA)
Markus T. Lasut.
Sub-Laboratory of Toxicology & Marine Pharrnaceutics, Laboratory of Marine Sciences.
Faculty of Fisheries & Marine Sciences, Sarn Ratulangi Uniuersity, JI. Kampus Unsrat
Bahu, Manado 95 11 5, Indonesia
ABSTRACT
Effects of salinity (25-35 %o) interaction with cyanide (KCN and NaCN) on survival have
been tested on abalone Haliotis uaria. Highest mortality occurred at a salinity of 25 %o
and 4 ppm of both forms of cyanide. The lowest salinity could have caused stress, making
abalone more sensitive. The effect of cyanide on survival was significant at 1 ppm of KCN
and 2 ppm of NaCN Q?<0.05), while the salinity and the interaction with cyanide were not
(p>0.05). Seemingly, the KCN was more
toxic than the NaCN.
INTRODUCTION
Cyanide (CN-) occurs in marine environ- The objective of the present study is to
ments in combination with ions of saline investigate the effects of salinity-cyanide
water, forming potassium sait cyanide acid (KCN & NaCN) interaction on the mortality
(KCN) and sodium salt cyanide acid (NaCN) of the intertidal abalone Haliotis uaria.
compounds. Cyanide also exists as HCN, a Abalones have rarely been used as test
very toxic compound. It is naturally found organisms for toxicity tests, although they
in the marine waters in very low have been used to study the interactive
concentrations. However, its concentration effects of pentachlorophenol and hypoxia
may increase due to pollution by cyanide- (Tjeerdema et al. t99la), the sublethal
containing waste. effects of pentachlorophenol (Tjeerdema ef
Cyanide is widely used in industries to al.799lb), the effects ofgas supersaturation
extract metals, such as gold from ores, in on the behaviour, growth and mortality
metal refining, metal cleaning and (Leitman 1992), the interactive effects of
electroplating operations, and in certain pentachlorophenol and temperature
mineral processing operations. (TJeerdema et al. 1993), and the effects of
Around the Minahasa Peninsular (North salinity and diazinon (Kaligis & Lasut
Sulawesi, Indonesia) the concentration of L997).
cyanide has probably increased due to a
contribution from a gold mining company. MATERIALS AND METHODS
No specific measurements are available but H. uaria were collected from January to
the company has dumped a hundred ton per April 1997 along the Likupang Beach,
day of cyanide containing wastewater to the Minahasa, North Sulawesi. The abalones
sea below the tropical thermocline were kept in the Marine Sciences
(approximately 82 m depth) through a Laboratory. In accordance with Kaligis &
pipeline (Anonymous 1994). However, the Lasut (1997) they were acclimated for 2 to
depth of the tropical thermocline is a matter 5 days at room temperature (24-25'C). The
of opinion because no precise data are seawater (salinity 33-34 %o), was well-
available. aerated and unfiltered. It was changed

2. 166 Tbopical Marine Mollusc Programme (TMMP)
every 24 hours. Abalones were fed 7A
macroalgae Gracilarlo sp. during this n25 ppt
period. The pH was about 8 when measured 60 x30 ppt
before and after the experiment. No food r34 ppt
was supplied during experiments. ^50
;S
Abalones with shell lengths ranging from
33.12-50.18 mm were prepared for each ;40
experiment conducted in 3-litres plastic Eso
o
bowls, which contained 1 litre of seawater. 5eo
Three abalones were put in each bowl. The
10
toxicity of KCN and NaCN in four different
concentrations (1, 2 and 4 ppm plus one 0
control without cyanide) was tested in 0't 24
relation to 3 salinities (25, 30 and 34 %"). Concentration of NaCN (ppm)
The cyanide concentrations were based on
a preliminary test, which showed that7.76 Figure 2. Interactive effect between salinity and
and 9.45 ppm were the median lethal cyanide (NaCN) on the mortality of the abalone
concentration (LCSO) for 96 hours of both H. uaria along 96 hours of experiment.
KCN and NaCN. Abalones were scored as
being dead according to the criteria by At a salinity of 25 Voo, 1007o mortality was
Singhagraiwan et al. (7992) and Kaiigis & recorded in L,2, and 4 ppm (Figs. 1-2). The
Lasut '1997). results of the statistical test (ANOVA)
A two-way ANOVA (Sokal & Rohlf 1981; showed that the effects of KCN to the
Fowler & Cohen 1990) was applied to mortality was significant at a concentration
analyse if different concentrations of of 1 ppm (p<0.05), while the salinity and
salinit5r, cyanide and their interaction were the interaction between salinity and KCN
affecting the mortality. were not affecting mortality (p>0.05).
In the interactions between 1,2 and 4 ppm
of NaCN and 25 %o S, tlne mortality was 11,
RESULTS
44 and 66 7o respectively. In l, 2, and 4 ppm
No mortality occurred in any of the controls.
of NaCN and 34 %o S, mortality was 11,22
and 44 % respectively. The NaCN from a
't00 n25 ppt
x30 ppt concentration of 2 ppm was significantly
90 affecting the mortality (p<0.05), while the
80
r34 ppt
saiinity and the interaction between salinity
G.70
9eo and NaCN were not affecting mortality
E50 (p>0.05).
(g
E4a
DISCUSSION
2A Kaligis & Lasut (1997) reported that the
10 combination between salinity and the
0 -.'''''''''.,''', . !
insecticide diazinon resulted in mortality of
0
the abalone H. uaria; especially in low
Concentration of KCN {ppm) salinity (25 %"). The same trend was found
in the present study. Mortality was highest
Figure 1. Interactive effect between salinity and in25 %o and the mortality depended on the
cyanide (KCN) on the mortality of the abalone concentration of KCN and NaCN (Figs. 1&
H. uaria along 96 hours of experiment. D.

3. phuhet Marine Biological Center Special Publication no. 19(1): 165-168 (1999) 167
H. uaria is thriving in salinities of 32'5 to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
35 %o (Fuse 1981). The abalone is mode- Special gratitude is extended to Prof. Dr. R'
rately tolerant to seawater of 25 %o S M. Rompas for valuable advise. I want to
without acclimation and to a salinity of 20 thank mv colleague Mr. M. R' Badu for his
7oo S wit]n acclimation (Kaligis & Lasut
assistance in all phases of the work' I am
7gg7). However, 25 %" S is lower than the very indebted to the Tropical Marine
optimum and may cause stress making the Mollusc Programme (TMMP) sponsored by
species more sensitive to pollutants. DANIDA for the chance to present this
KCN was relatively more toxic than NaCN' paper in The Ninth International Workshop/
The biochemical action of cyanide is that it Congress of Tropical Marine Mollusc
deprives the body ofoxygen by acting as a Programme (TMMP),August 19-29, 1998 at
chemical asphyxiant. Cyanide inhibits an Lombok, Indonesia.
enzyme involved in the oxidative phospho-
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