Effects of cadmium on consumption, assimilation and biochemical parameters of Daphnia magna: possible implications for reproduction.

1. The effects of cadmium on consumption, assimilation rates and biochemical parameters of Daphnia magna were determined. 2. The consumption and assimilation rates of 14 days 1.0 ppb Cd treated animals tended to decrease slightly, the decline of these rates at 5.0 ppb Cd (14 days), however, was highly significant (P less than 0.001). 3. The assimilation efficiencies of daphnids exposed to cadmium did not significantly differ from control. 4. No notable changes in the biochemical composition of daphnids could be noticed after 7, 14 and 21 days of cadmium exposure. 5. It seems as if not one metabolic process in particular was depressed due to cadmium, but metabolic activities seemed to be inhibited on the whole. 6. Results are discussed in relation with data of a previous study on the reproduction of D. magna under cadmium stress.