Interactive effects of increasing chloride concentration and warming on freshwater plankton communities

To determine the effects of increasing chloride and temperatures on freshwater plankton communities and investigate the adequacy of the current Canadian Water Quality Guideline for chloride (CWQG), we conducted a mesocosm experiment, using 30 nominal concentrations of chloride from ambient (16.9 mg/L) to 1500 mg/L, either ambient or warmed temperatures, and a plankton community from a Canadian Shield lake. This experiment extended for six weeks. We collected samples for chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton community composition, and zooplankton biomass and community composition.