Ecological Impact of Repeated Applications of Chlorpyrifos on Zooplankton Community in Mesocosms Under Mediterrananean Conditions

• Published in: Ecotoxicology (London) Vol. 17; no. 8; p. 811
• Main Authors: Lopez-Mancisidor, Patricia, Carbonell, Gregoria, Fernandez, Carlos, Tarazona, Jose V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.2008
• ISSN: 0963-9292

Ecological impact of repeated applications of chlorpyrifos on zooplankton community in mesocosms under Mediterranean conditions was assessed. Temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured using HACH portable apparatus. Measurement of chlorophyll-a, following a trichromatic method, was carried using a spectrophotometer. The effects of chlorpyrifos at the zooplankton community level were analyzed by the principal response curves (PRC) method. The application of chlorpyrifos resulted in a decrease in abundance in the arthropod community. A major and long- term decrease in densities of arthropods was found at the greatest treatment level. Populations of juvenile Copepoda and adult Cyclopoida, in particular, showed treatment-related declined at the greatest chlorpyrifos concentration. The increase in abundance values of Calanoida populations might be the result of the absence of Cyclopoida.