Influence of benzene on the phytoplankton and on Daphnia pulex in compartments of an experimental pond.
Benzene, with initial concentrations of 100 and 50 mg per liter, was dosed in duplicates into four compartments of a small pond. The decrease of chemical concentration in the water was exponential with a mean half-life of 4.7 +/- 0.9 days. Following benzene application, the phytoplankton density and diversity slightly increased relative to the controls. Both concentrations were lethal for the daphnids present. During 24-hr in vitro tests with Daphnia pulex (initial benzene concentrations less than 50 mg per liter), a direct correlation between mobility and decreasing chemical concentration was observed.
D000818:Animals; D001554:Benzene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003621:Daphnia / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006207:Half-Life; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000187:drug effects*; D010933:Plankton / Q000187:drug effects*; D012995:Solubility; D013696:Temperature; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001554:Benzene; D010100:Oxygen