Effects of a hypothetical escape of CO2 gas from subterranean storage sites on water flea Daphnia magna

Abstract

The impacts of a hypothetical CO2 gas leak from freshwater sediments on the survival and reproduction of freshwater flea Daphnia magna were analyzed. Another objective was to assess the performance of standard toxicity testing protocols for CO2-induced acidification research in freshwaters. Four pH levels (7.5, 7.0, 6.5, and 6.0) and two sediments with different contamination level were tested. The results revealed that the D. magna are susceptible to a gradual but relatively rapid CO2 enrichment of the water column causing a change from circumneutral to acidic conditions. Standard 48-h immobilization test with D. magna tended to underestimate the toxicity at CO2-induced acidity condition. Dissolved aluminum may be implicated in the toxicity to the parental daphnids exposed. Metal outflux from sediments and behavior in elutriate have been discussed.