S-metolachlor pulse exposure on the alga Scenedesmus vacuolatus: effects during exposure and the subsequent recovery

In streams and creeks, the aquatic flora is exposed to fluctuating concentrations of herbicides during and following their application. Peak concentrations of herbicides, like the chloroacetanilide S-metolachlor, are usually detected following rain events. In this study, we assessed the effect of S-metolachlor pulse exposure on the algae Scenedesmus vacuolatus. We measured the time-dependency of effects during exposure on algae population and identified the algae development stage most sensitive to S-metolachlor. Furthermore, we assessed the time-to-recovery of the algae following exposure. A 6h pulse exposure at 598mugl(-1) was sufficient to inhibit cell reproduction by 50%. However, the exposure period had to coincide with the cell development stage specifically inhibited by S-metolachlor, which is the end of the cell growth phase. In algae populations composed of cells at all development stages, we initially observed an increase in the size of some algal cells, ultimately leading to an inhibition of the growth rate. In these experimental conditions, effects were observed after 18h of exposure and greatly increased with time. The recovery of algae following exposure to strongly inhibiting S-metolachlor concentrations was delayed and only occurred after 29h. These findings suggest that peak exposure to S-metolachlor may affect the growth of sensitive alga in surface waters, considering that the effects extend beyond the period of exposure.