The toxicities of a polyunsaturated fatty acid and a microcystin to Daphnia magna

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential components of zooplankton diets. However, studies with PUFAs from cyanobacteria indicate toxic properties. We investigated the toxicity of the PUFA γ-linolenic acid and the cyanobacterial peptide toxin microcystin-LR to Daphnia. The PUFA was acutely toxic at a concentration of 9 μg ml^-1. The effect of microcystin-LR was not statistically significant at the concentration used (3 μg ml^-1), but an additive effect with the PUFA was observed. Relative to LC₅₀-values of well-known pollutants, the PUFA was intermediately toxic. The activity equaled that of microcystin-LR, which is commonly treated as one of the most potent cyanobacterial toxins. Our results suggest that the toxic properties of PUFAs deserve more attention.