The use of liposomes to differentiate between the effects of nickel accumulation and altered food quality in Daphnia magna exposed to dietary nickel

► Ni-contaminated algae can be toxic to Daphnia magna at exposures to 262 μg Ni/g dw. ► Algae need to be cultured in 133 μg Ni2+/L to attain this contamination degree. ► This exposure reduces the algal concentration of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. ► Reduced food quality harms reproduction of D. magna, in addition to Ni exposure.