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Ribogospod. nauka Ukr., 2026; 1(75): 4-18
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61976/fsu2026.01.004
UDC 591.11:597.554.3

Received: 05.01.2026
Received in revised form: 02.03.2026
Published: 31.03.2026

Influence of water pollution with heavy metals and explosives on Daphnia magna (Straus, 1820) in model experiments

I. Drehval, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID ID 0000-0001-6272-2082, Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Dnipro
N. Yesipova, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID ID 0000-0003-1924-2547, Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Dnipro
N. Khromykh, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ,  ORCID ID 0000-0003-3543-352X, Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Dnipro
D. Zhuravlyov, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ,  ORCID ID 0009-0002-9553-5528, Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Dnipro

Purpose. Establishing the patterns of chronic exposure to heavy metals and explosives (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) on survival, morphological parameters, and the generative system of Daphnia magna (Straus, 1820) in a model experiment.

Methodology. The chronic experiment on the toxic substances effects on D. magna lasted 21 days. The experiments used juvenile D. magna of one generation. The density of daphnia in the experimental and control variants, laid out in two replicates, was 10 ind./100 cm3. Water pollution in experimental aquariums was simulated by adding substances to final concentrations: 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) 2.5 mg/L, copper 0.02 mg/L, cadmium 0.0075 mg/L, zinc 0.013 mg/L, and a mixture of heavy metals at the indicated concentrations. The control aquarium contained dechlorinated tap water. The dead individuals were counted weekly and the relative number of dead Daphnia was calculated, and the time of ephippia formation was recorded. At the end of the experiment, the morphometric parameters of daphnia were determined by measuring their length and greatest width. Measurements were performed in the Science LabView7 from images taken with a SIGETA M3 CMOS 25000 digital camera connected to a Ulab XY-B2TLED microscope.

Findings. Studies of the chronic effects of heavy metals and TNT on Daphnia magna showed that the toxic effect increased over time and led to increased mortality rates in crustaceans and suppression of their reproductive ability. Statistically significant differences between the number of dead D. magna individuals in the experimental and control variants were noted for solutions of copper, cadmium, a mixture of metals, and TNT. By the degree of toxic effect, the solutions can be arranged in the following sequence: (Cu+Cd+Zn) > Cu2+ > TNT > Cd2+ > Zn2+. Monitoring the formation of ephippium eggs showed that cadmium and TNT at the tested concentrations suppressed reproductive processes in daphnia, while zinc, on the contrary, activated them. Background concentrations of copper caused sexual sterility in daphnia. According to morphometric analysis, the body length of D. magna under the influence of cadmium and TNT was insignificantly reduced compared to the control. Only copper caused a significant inhibition of the daphnia growth: the length and width of daphnia body in this variant were significantly lower than the control values, the difference was 25%.

Originality. For the first time, the effect of background concentrations of heavy metals and experimental concentrations of TNT on the survival, morphometric parameters, and reproduction of ephippium eggs in Daphnia magna was investigated. The greatest copper toxic effect on the viability and reproductive ability of daphnia has been shown, which was enhanced by synergism with cadmium and zinc.

Practicalvalue. The data obtained will allow developing a scientifically based innovative approach to self-cleaning and restoration of water bodies affected by military impact, implementing the preservation and increase populations of filter-feeding aquatic organisms.

Keywords: chronic effect, heavy metals, TNT, Daphnia magna, mortality, morphometric parameters, ephippia.

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