Sediment microcosm experiments were conducted for 14 and 28 days using Zn spiked sediment to examine chronic toxicity (mortality) of Diporeia spp. as a function of density and time. Mean cumulative Diporeia mortality in 28 day sediment microcosms was 25% at $1,800;{mu}g;g^{-1}$ total Zn in sediment. Although a certain fraction $(20{sim}40%)$ of Diporeia was dead, its mortality was attributed by handling stress within 4 days and was not significantly encreased with increasing within the range of Zn concentrations examined in this study. These results suggest that Diporeia can tolerate Zn contaminated sediment and may be useful as a biomonitor for Zn contamination in freshwater environments.