Impact of Lead Concentration on Zebrafish Reproduction

In an effort to understand the role of pollutants on aquatic systems, researchers conducted an experiment in which they measured the effects of varying concentrations of a specific heavy metal, lead (Pb), on the reproductive success of a freshwater fish species, Danio rerio (zebrafish). The study involved three groups of zebrafish exposed to different concentrations of lead: Group A (0 ppm), Group B (15 ppm), and Group C (30 ppm). Over the span of four weeks, the researchers documented the number of eggs produced by each group and the viability of those eggs after fertilization.

The results showed that Group A exhibited normal reproductive rates, producing an average of 200 eggs with a viability rate of 80%. Group B, with moderate lead exposure, produced an average of 120 eggs with a viability rate decreasing to 50%. In contrast, Group C showed a drastic reduction, producing only an average of 30 eggs, with a viability rate dropping to 20%. The researchers concluded that lead concentration negatively impacted both the quantity and quality of zebrafish reproduction.