Effects of salinity and standard toxic metals on fertilization and embryo development rates were investigated in the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus nudus. Spawning was induced by injecting 1㎖ of 0.5 M KCl into the coelomic cavity. The fertilization and embryo development rates were below 20% when salinity was 25 psu or lower, but were above 90% when salinity was between 30 and 35 psu. The fertilization and embryo development rates in the control condition (not including Cu and Cd) were greater than 90%, but decreased with a high negative correlation (r) of 0.89 and 0.91 with the increasing of Cu and Cd concentrations, respectively. These results suggest that salinity concentrations for successful fertilization and normal embryogenesis of S. nudus are between 30 and 35 psu, and the biological assays of fertilization and embryo development rates using S. nudus are useful methods for the ecological toxicity test of marine pollution elements.

• 황운기(서해수산연구소 환경연구과) | Un-Ki Hwang Corresponding Author
• 이충원(서해수산연구소 환경연구과) | Chung-Won Lee
• 이승민(서해수산연구소 환경연구과) | Seung-Min Lee
• 안경호(서해수산연구소 환경연구과) | Kyoung-Ho An
• 박승윤(서해수산연구소 환경연구과) | Seung-Youn Park