Effects of bifenthrin on Daphnia magna during chronic toxicity test and the recovery test

The acute and chronic toxic effects of bifenthrin on Daphnia magna were studied. The results showed that 24 h-EC50, 48 h-LC50 and 96 h-LC50 of bifenthrin on D. magna were 3.24, 12.40 and 1.40 microg/L respectively. And the LOEC and NOEC of bifenthrin were 0.02 and 0.004 microg/L respectively. The recovery test of bifenthrin on Daphnia magna was presented. Daphnia magna (F0 generation) were exposed during 21 d to different bifenthrin concentrations. Offspring (animals from the first and third brood: F1 (1st) and F1 (3rd), respectively) were transferred to a free pesticide medium during a 21 d recovery period. In this recovery study, survival, growth, reproduction (mean total young per female, onset of reproduction and number broods per female) and the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) were assessed as parameters. Reproduction such as number of young per female as well as length was still reduced in F1 (1st) generation daphnids from parentals (F0) exposed to the bifenthrin. However F, (3rd) individuals from parentals exposed to pesticide concentrations were able to restore reproduction when a recovery period of 21 d was allowed, but the length of F, (3rd) from parentals exposed to the 0.5 and 0.75 microg/L bifenthrin concentration was still significantly effected (P < 0.05).