Sublethal effects of ultraviolet radiation on the cladocerans, Daphnia catawba and Daphnia pulicaria

Abstract

The effects of UV radiation on zooplankton are well documented. Most research has analyzed the effects of relatively high doses of UV radiation on the survival of these organisms. The levels of radiation used in these experiments tend to be unnatural in order to elicit a response from the organism. This study analyzes the effects of sublethal levels of UV radiation in order to determine the responses of zooplankton to these lower levels of radiation.