A microcosm test of adaptation and species specific responses to polluted sediments applicable to indigenous chironomids (Diptera)

Bahrndorff, Simon; Ward, Jacqueline; Pettigrove, Vincent; Hoffmann, Ary A.

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2005.05.024

Cited by 31 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The genus level might therefore be appropriate for monitoring and there would be a substantial loss of information if monitoring only occurred at higher levels. The results also suggest that differences among congeneric species in pollution sensitivities might not be consistent when compared across sites; this requires further work although it might partly reflect local adaptation within chironomid species when collected from different sites (Groenendijk et al 2002;Bahrndorff et al 2006). Obviously these are general guidelines, whereas, the availability of a phylogeny means that specific recommendations can be made about pooling within particular phylogenetic nodes.…”

Section: Assessing Phylogenetic Signals: Nested Analyses Across Taxonmentioning

confidence: 64%

Phylogenetic signals and ecotoxicological responses: potential implications for aquatic biomonitoring

2011

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Macroinvertebrates can be successfully used as biomonitors of pollutants and environmental health because some groups are sensitive whereas, others are relatively tolerant to pollutants. An issue of ongoing debate is what constitutes an appropriate group for biomonitoring; should the group represent species, genera or higher taxonomic levels? A phylogenetic framework can provide new insights into this issue. By developing phylogenies for chironomids and mayflies, this investigation shows that there is strong phylogenetic signal for pollution responses, and that phylogenetic nodes are common to tolerant and sensitive groups of species. A phylogenetic analysis of biotic indices developed for mayflies based on their response to organic pollution shows that mayfly families varied in pollution tolerance. In contrast, based on sediment zinc concentrations as an indicator of pollution tolerance, Australian chironomids tend to vary in tolerance at lower taxonomic levels. Published data on North American chironomids shows much of the signal for pollution responses is contained within genera rather than sub-families. Tools are now available to distinguish whether this signal reflects historical evolutionary constraints or environmental effects leading to common evolved responses. This suggests that ideally higher taxonomic levels should be used for biomonitoring when there are strong phylogenetic constraints at higher levels. Evolutionary considerations can therefore help to guide the development of macroinvertebrate biomonitors and provide insights into processes that produce sensitive and tolerant taxa.

show abstract

Section: Assessing Phylogenetic Signals: Nested Analyses Across Taxonmentioning

confidence: 64%

Phylogenetic signals and ecotoxicological responses: potential implications for aquatic biomonitoring

2011

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The reason why C. ambigua is successful in warm nutrient-rich Danish lakes is probably linked to local adaptation (cf. Bahrndorff et al 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Midge-inferred Holocene effective moisture fluctuations in a subarctic lake, northern Lapland

Luoto¹,

Sarmaja‐Korjonen²

2011

Boreas

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Nevertheless, the same critical thresholds at which many of these species declined tended to support Pettigrove & Hoffmann (2005), and the lack of significant association in our field survey may reflect a lack of power and/or the influence of other environmental factors on the distribution of these species. Kiefferulus ‘tinctus’ may be more tolerant and C. ‘februarius’ may be less tolerant to sediment pollution than suggested by data in Pettigrove & Hoffmann (2005), although tolerance levels of C. ‘februarius’ can be confounded by adaptation (Bahrndorff et al. , 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The response of Chironomidae to sediment pollution and other environmental characteristics in urban wetlands

et al. 2007

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. We investigated the distribution of chironomid taxa in urban wetlands in the greater Melbourne area, Australia, to test if their distribution was influenced by sediment pollution and other environmental variables. 2. For identification of the Chironomidae, DNA markers generated via polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism of cytochrome c oxidase sub unit I (COI) were validated against morphology and reference specimens for more than 5000 chironomids representing over 80 species. DNA-based identification generally concurred with morphological separation, but also indicated the existence of cryptic diversity in some genera. 3. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed chironomid assemblages were structured among wetlands and could be linked to several habitat characteristics. However, Chironomidae assemblages were only weakly linked to sediment pollution. 4. Logistic regressions identified potential bioindicators of sediment pollution. Riethia stictoptera, Tanytarsus inextentus, Coelopynia and Chironomus 'februarius' were negatively associated and Chironomus duplex was positively associated with sediment pollution. Thresholds for the pollution sensitivities of specific species were mostly similar to those established with previous microcosm tests. 5. Several other environmental factors influenced the distribution of specific chironomid taxa. Salinity, substratum type and submerged and riparian vegetation were particularly important. 6. We conclude that specific chironomid taxa rather than assemblages have potential as bioindicators of sediment pollution provided their ecological preferences are considered and their pollution sensitivities are characterized using multiple methods. The integration of DNA-based techniques should facilitate accurate and rapid identification of bioindicators species.

show abstract

A microcosm test of adaptation and species specific responses to polluted sediments applicable to indigenous chironomids (Diptera)

Cited by 31 publications

References 19 publications

Phylogenetic signals and ecotoxicological responses: potential implications for aquatic biomonitoring

Phylogenetic signals and ecotoxicological responses: potential implications for aquatic biomonitoring

Midge-inferred Holocene effective moisture fluctuations in a subarctic lake, northern Lapland

The response of Chironomidae to sediment pollution and other environmental characteristics in urban wetlands

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About