Effects of increased temperature, drought, and an insecticide on freshwater zooplankton communities

Abstract In the present study we performed a microcosm experiment to assess the effects of the insecticide lufenuron on zooplankton communities exposed to increased temperature and drought in (semi‐)arid regions. The experiment consisted of 3 environmental scenarios, assessed in 2 parts. Firstly, we assessed how water temperature (20 and 28 °C) affects the sensitivity and resilience of the zooplankton community to lufenuron. Secondly, we investigated the influence of drought on the structure of the zooplankton community at a high water temperature (28 °C) and evaluated its possible interaction with lufenuron. The results show that the community exposed to lufenuron at 28 °C had a faster lufenuron‐related response and recovery than the community at 20 °C. The combined effects of lufenuron and temperature resulted in a synergistic effect on some taxa ( Daphnia sp., Cyclopoida, and Copepoda nauplii). The tested zooplankton community had a high resilience to drought, although some particular taxa were severely affected after desiccation (Calanoida). Interactions between drought and lufenuron were not statistically significant. However, rewetting after desiccation contributed to lufenuron remobilization from sediments and resulted in a slight Cyclopoida population decline at high exposure concentrations. The study shows how environmental conditions related to global change in (semi‐)arid regions may influence chemical fate and the vulnerability of zooplankton communities to chemical stress. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:396–411. © 2018 SETAC