UV-B induced mortality and antioxidant enzyme activities in Daphnia magna at different oxygen concentrations and temperatures

Survival of adult Daphnia magna was assessed after acute (<96 h) exposure t o UV312 under various temperatures (6, 12 and 18 degrees C) or oxygen conce ntrations (5.6, 8.5 and 14.1 mg O-2 l(-1)) in the laboratory. The surviving animals were screened for the enzymes catalase (CAT) and glutathione trans ferase (GST), which may protect against W-induced oxidative damage. In addi tion, the same two enzymes were assayed in separate experiments after acute exposure to UV312 (6 h, 0.014 mW cm(-2)) and the different levels of tempe rature and oxygen. No differences were observed in either CAT or GST activi ty after exposure to the three levels of oxygen, but there was a tendency f or decreasing specific activity with decreasing temperature for both enzyme s. CAT activity was not influenced by UV radiation, whereas GST activity di splayed a slight increase. Oxygen concentration did not influence survival during UV exposure but, contrary to expectations, survival tests at differe nt temperatures clearly showed that reduced temperature increased survival. The results indicate that temperature effects must be considered when comp aring dose effect relationships in situ, and suggest that low temperature i s not a major cause of UV susceptibility in cold-adapted alpine and Arctic populations of Daphnia.