RESUMO
The present study aimed to investigate the response of several life history parameters (body length and age of primipara, duration of embryonic development, maximum body length, reproduction and survival) of the zooplankton Ceriodaphnia silvestrii while exposed to copper contaminated algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. In order to evaluate chronic exposure on the animal's life history, long-term experimental design was used. Cladocerans were fed with a dietary copper concentration ranging from 3 to 68 fg Cu cell(-1). Low waterborne copper exposure (around 10(-10)molL(-1) free Cu(2+) ions) was kept in the experiments. The results showed that by exposure of cladocerans during 7 days to contaminated food with 68 fg Cu cell(-1), a significant reduction in neonate production, survival and body size were obtained. Inhibition on egg production of zooplankton at 38 fg Cu cell(-1) were observed in 36 days chronic dietary copper exposure. The importance of entire life cycle study to better evaluate cladoceran responses to chronic dietary metal exposure was demonstrated.