Effect of mercury and lead on primary productivity of two water bodies

Abstract

Toxicity was in the order mercuric chloride > lead nitrate > lead acetate. The productivity of tank water was more affected than that of stabilization pond waters. Though gross and net production were grossly affected, a generalized trend of increase in community respiration indicates greater tolerance to or adaptive mechanisms of the resident heterotrophs to cope with stress by the heavy metal salts. -from Authors