THE EFFECTS OF VARYING WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS ON THE TOXICITY OF COPPER TO DAPHNIA PULEX

Abstract

Neonate Daphnia pulex were exposed to a range of copper concentrations under a variety of combinations of water quality parameters. Hardness, alkalinity, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, and humic acids were adjusted to a high or low level and the effects on copper toxicity were measured. Immobilization EC5Os ranged over 2 orders of magnitude. Main factor effects and two factor interactions were examined by fractional factorial analysis. The most influential factor, the presence of humic acid, overshadowed the effects of other factors.