Acute toxicity of a glyphosate herbicide, Roundup®, to two freshwater crustaceans

Abstract: The acute toxicity of a glyphosate herbicide Roundup®, contaminating freshwater ecosystems in Sri Lanka was investigated with two species of the most common freshwater crustaceans: calanoid copepod (Phyllodiaptomus annae Apstein) and decapod shrimp (Caridina nilotica P. Roux). LC50 values in adult males were determined using standard toxicity assays under static conditions. The 48h LC50 value for P. annae was estimated as 1.06 mg/L and the values of 72 h and 96 h LC50 for C. nilotica were 107.53 and 60.97 mg/L, respectively. The present study reveals that Roundup® may cause a significant impact on native non-target organisms. Further studies are needed to establish the toxic effect of Roundup® to the very important structural group in the aquatic ecosystems in Sri Lanka.

Keywords: Acute toxicity, glyphosate, mortality, Roundup®, shrimp, zooplankton.

Doi: 10.4038/jnsfsr.v39i2.3178

J.Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2011 39 (2): 169-173