Maternally derived Cu tolerance in larval fathead minnows: how long does it persist?

Fathead minnow Pimephales promelas larvae were produced by either copper (Cu)-exposed or naïve females and then subjected to a 96 h survival test using Cu concentrations of 400 and 800 microg l(-1). Three survival challenges were conducted: the first survival test featured 0 day-old larvae while the second and third featured 8 and 15 day-old larvae, respectively. The results of this study show that maternally derived Cu tolerance was relatively short-lived as it persisted for <8 days.