Impact of Eskoba®, a glyphosate formulation, on the freshwater plankton community

RENO, U.; GUTIÉRREZ, M.F.; REGALDO, L. ; GAGNETEN A.M.

WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH

WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION

Año: 2014 vol. 86 p. 2294 - 2300

1061-4303

We analyzed the acute effects of a glyphosate-based herbicide (ESKOBA®) on the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris, the cladoceran Simocephalus vetulus, and the copepod Notodiaptomus conifer and evaluated the recovery ability of the surviving microcrustaceans. Survival, age of first reproduction and fecundity were used as endpoints for S. vetulus and survival and time to reach the adult stage, for N. conifer. The registered order of sensitivity was: S. vetulus (48h-h-EC50: 21 mg L-1) > C. vulgaris (72 h-EC50: 58.59 mg L-1) > N. conifer (48h-h-EC50: 95 mg L-1). Despite growth of C. vulgaris was stimulated after 24 h of exposure, it was inhibited after 48 h by all tested concentrations. In post-exposure experiments, microcrustaceans reduced their life expectancy, S. vetulus decreased its fertility and N. conifer inhibited its sexual maturity. It was demonstrated that these species can hardly be recovered in the medium-short term.