ABSTRACT
The following paper gives an overview to the responses of aquatic outdoor microcosms of the “split-pond”-type to chemical contamination. Eight different chemicals were tested: atrazine, diquat, amitrole, 4-nitrophenol, sodium pentachlorophenate (PCP), lindane, carbofuran and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS). The application of substances which affected the macrophytes (atrazine, diquat, amitrole, LAS) led to changes in physico-chemical parameters. PCP and the insecticides lindane and carbofuran had practically no effects on macrophytes and water chemistry. Nearly all of the contaminants caused changes in the phytoplankton community and had adverse effects on the zooplankton, either by direct or indirect action.
