As the world pushes towards net zero emissions, demand for metals and minerals has increased, prompting discussions regarding deep-sea mining to meet this need. Although there is a good understanding of the effect of copper and other metals found in sediment plumes produced by deep-sea mining on aquatic organisms, there is little research on the effect of sulfate copper exposure specifically on Artemia salina, once remediated from contaminated water. The problem being investigated is, to what extent is the development and mortality rate of Artemia salina affected by acute exposure to copper sulfate during and after remediation? This study hypothesized that if Artemia salina is exposed to copper sulfate, it would inhibit development and increase the mortality rate, even after remediation. This study was performed using three cultures of Artemia salina labeled “Control”, “Short Exposure”, and “Long Exposure”. The long-exposure group was exposed to 12.5 μM copper sulfate throughout the study, whereas the short-exposure group was remediated halfway through the study using a specialized net. Data was collected by recording the Artemia salina development stage and mortality rate every day for one week. In summary, the hypothesis was supported. Artemia salina exposed to copper sulfate displayed conspicuous retardation in the development and a notable escalation in mortality rates during and after remediation compared to the control group.
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