The role of microflora and plant supplements in daphnia magna resistance to a toxicant

Abstract

Current risk assessment of various pollutants in aquatic environments is largely based on results from single-species laboratory studies. At the same time, there are very complex interactions between microflora, algae and zooplankton in natural waters, which are able to alter the direct effects of some toxicants. This study was done to investigate the effect of toxicants on complex aquasystems. To explore it, we treated laboratory invertebrates Daphnia magna with deltamethrin with and without addition of plant excreta.In this study we found that the excreta of Typha angustifolia and Chlorella vulgaris may play a significant role in the regulation of the invertebrate populations to the action of pollutants and we observed a 2-fold to 4-fold increase in survivability and reproduction due to its addition. The role of microflora in Daphnia magna, adaptation to a toxicant was found less significant.