In vitro toxicity of cadmium on the development of parthenogenetic eggs of a freshwater cladoceran: Daphnia magna

This work aims to assess the effects of cadmium on a bioindicator of pollution,daphnia magna,a freshwater cladoceran microcrustacea. in fact,the chronic toxicity test duration was 21 days for daphnis,so it's a long and costy test. however,the development stages of daphnia magna's eggs could be used as potential tests for chronic toxicity. indeed,microscopic examination of eggs for 72 hours could be an alternative to chronic toxicity test using 24 hours neonate. the parthenogenetic eggs of daphnia magna were e exposed in vitro to cadmium (60,80 and 100 μg l-1) revealed an embryotoxicity during the different stages of development,with appearance of abnormal neonates of various shapes and sizes,with few developed carapace and the disappearance of antennas. on the basis of these data,we suggested that cadmium had a negative environmental impact on aquatic invertebrates. eggs proved to be a suitable alternative model for ecotoxicological studies and the assessment of water quality.