Macroinvertebrate community response to acid mine drainage in rivers of the High Andes (Bolivia)

Damme, Paul A. Van; Hamel, Caroli; Ayala, Alfredo; Bervoets, Lieven

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2008.04.018

Cited by 57 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Therefore, our results may suggest that the mining impact could be stronger than natural processes in affecting the benthic fauna, in line with the reports by Petrin et al (2007), who showed through a meta-analytic approach based on 60 datasets, that macroinvertebrate species richness declines three times more rapidly with increasing acidity when the water acidity is of human origin (by the release of acidifying substances and metal-rich drainage) than when it is natural. The effects of impacts related to mining activities on aquatic invertebrates are relatively well known (e.g., Smolders et al, 2003;Harding, 2005;Pond et al, 2008;Van Damme et al, 2008). Despite the fact that the effects of metal toxicity on invertebrates are complex and vary from taxon to taxon (Harding, 2005), large increases in certain ions can disrupt water balance and ion exchange processes and cause organism stress or death of some less tolerant groups (Pond et al, 2008).…”

Section: > Relationship Between Mining Activities and Macroinvertebramentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates and biotic indices to evaluate water quality in rivers impacted by mining activities in northern Chile

Alvial¹,

Tapia

Castro³

et al. 2012

Knowl. Managt. Aquatic Ecosyst.

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Key-words: macroinvertebrates, biotic indices, multivariate analysis, semiarid regionCatchments in the semiarid regions are especially susceptible to environmental perturbation associated with water scarcity, hydrological variations and overuse by anthropogenic activities. Using multivariate analysis to relate environmental and biological data, and diversity and biotic indices (ChBMWP, ChIBF), we analyzed the macroinvertebrate composition of 12 rivers of the semiarid region of northern Chile. A non-metric multidimensional scaling for macroinvertebrate taxa and a principal component analysis for environmental variables strongly separated upstream sites (e.g. Vacas Heladas and Malo Rivers), which presented low pH and high dissolved metal concentrations, from other sites. Effectively, CCA showed that metals and low pH, associated with the altitudinal gradient, determined the distributional patterns of macroinvertebrates in the Elqui catchment. The causes of these particular conditions could be related to geological processes and human impact. The biotic indices applied to the sampling sites corroborated and reflected these characteristics, with La Laguna and Turbio Rivers showing a diverse macroinvertebrate community and moderate to good water quality, and the Claro River showing favorable conditions for the development of aquatic biota, indicating its better quality relative to other stations. To the middle and low part of the basin, a change in the composition of the community was observed, with species that suggest an impact by an increase in organic matter, due to agricultural activities and urban settlements concentrated in this area. Our results suggest that macroinvertebrate taxa in northern Chile may be exceptional species, adapted to unfavorable geochemical conditions, and emphasize the need for protection of the semiarid basins of the region. RÉSUMÉ L'analyse des macroinvertébrés benthiques et indices biotiques pour évaluer la qualité de l'eau dans les rivières touchées par les activités minières dans le nord du Chili Mots-clés : macroinvertébrés, indicesLes bassins versants des régions semi-arides sont particulièrement sensibles aux perturbations de l'environnement associées à la rareté de l'eau, aux variations hydrologiques et à la surexploitation par les activités anthropiques. Utilisant une analyse multivariée pour relier les données environnementales et biologiques, la diversité et des indices biotiques (ChBMWP, ChIBF), nous avons analysé la biotiques, analyse multivariée, région semi-aride composition des macroinvertébrés des 12 rivières de la région semi-aride du nord du Chili. Une mise à l'échelle multidimensionnelle non métrique pour des taxons de macroinvertébrés et une analyse en composantes principales des variables environnementales, séparent fortement les sites amont (par exemple Vacas Heladas et rivières Malo), qui présentent un pH faible et des concentrations élevées de mé-taux dissous, issus d'autres sites. En effet, la CCA a montré que les métaux et le pH faible associés au grad...

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Section: > Relationship Between Mining Activities and Macroinvertebramentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates and biotic indices to evaluate water quality in rivers impacted by mining activities in northern Chile

Alvial¹,

Tapia

Castro³

et al. 2012

Knowl. Managt. Aquatic Ecosyst.

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“…The specific responses of different groups of benthic invertebrates (at family, genera or even species levels) vary greatly [11], implying a need for detailed taxa-level resolution within AMD impact studies and more knowledge of the specific response of individual taxa to AMD effects, e.g., [12,22]. Despite this, a majority of the studies concerning the relationships of benthic invertebrates to AMD assess the types of response only at the family or even order levels [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Community composition usually shifts towards the dominance of the most tolerant taxa, such as some chironomids and oligochaetes [22,23,61]. On the other hand, taxonomic groups that are sensitive to the negative effects of AMD are reduced or completely disappear.…”

Section: Assemblage Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These environmental factors are strongly geographically variable, and therefore, it is expected that the characteristics of AMD vary from place to place [25]. Thus, studies from different parts of the world concerning various types of AMD acting at specific local conditions [22,26] could improve our understanding and allow for wider generalizations of the effects of AMD on benthic communities. In Central Europe, almost no attention has been paid to the impact of AMD on the environment, and case studies that would describe these effects on aquatic invertebrates are lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Benthic Communities of Low-Order Streams Affected by Acid Mine Drainages: A Case Study from Central Europe

Svitok

Novikmec

Bitušík

et al. 2014

Water

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Abstract:Only little attention has been paid to the impact of acid mine drainages (AMD) on aquatic ecosystems in Central Europe. In this study, we investigate the physico-chemical properties of low-order streams and the response of benthic invertebrates to AMD pollution in the Banská Štiavnica mining region (Slovakia). The studied streams showed typical signs of mine drainage pollution: higher conductivity, elevated iron, aluminum, zinc and copper loads and accumulations of ferric precipitates. Electric conductivity correlated strongly with most of the investigated elements (weighted mean absolute correlation = 0.95) and, therefore, can be recommended as a good proxy indicator for rapid AMD pollution assessments. The diversity and composition of invertebrate assemblages was related to water chemistry. Taxa richness decreased significantly along an AMD-intensity gradient. While moderately affected sites supported relatively rich assemblages, the harshest environmental conditions (pH < 2.5) were typical for the presence of a limited number of very tolerant taxa, such as Oligochaeta and some Diptera 1313(Limnophyes, Forcipomyiinae). The trophic guild structure correlated significantly with AMD chemistry, whereby predators completely disappeared under the most severe AMD conditions. We also provide a brief review of the AMD literature and outline the needs for future detailed studies involving functional descriptors of the impact of AMD on aquatic ecosystems.

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“…AMD can also degrade the physical habitat of streams, as iron hydroxide and other precipitates can clog interstitial spaces and cement substrate particles (DeNicola and Stapleton, 2002). These conditions can lead to declines in benthic macroinvertebrate richness, abundance, diversity, and biomass (Gerhardt et al, 2004;Van Damme et al, 2008;Alvial et al, 2012), as well as depressed fish abundance and diversity (Henry et al, 1999). Economic costs associated with AMD-degraded waterways include increased costs for drinking water treatment, a decline in property values, and the loss of recreational opportunities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acid mine drainage and stream recovery: Effects of restoration on water quality, macroinvertebrates, and fish

Williams

Turner

2015

Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ecosyst.

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Key-words:acid-mine drainage, stream acidification, watershed remediation, water quality, biological recovery Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a prominent threat to water quality in many of the world's mining districts as it can severely degrade both the biological community and physical habitat of receiving streams. There are relatively few long-term studies investigating the ability of stream ecosystems to recover from AMD. Here we assess watershed scale recovery of a coldwater stream from pollution by AMD using a 1967 survey of the biological and chemical properties of the stream as a pre-restoration benchmark. We sampled water chemistry, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish throughout the watershed during the spring and summer of 2011. Water chemistry results indicated that pH and total alkalinity increased post-restoration, while acidity, sulfate, and iron concentrations decreased. Watershedlevel taxa richness, local taxa richness, biomass, diversity, and density of macroinvertebrates were significantly higher post-restoration; however, %EPT was not significantly different. Fish species richness, density, and brook trout density were all significantly higher post-restoration. These results provide clear evidence that both abiotic and biotic components of streams can recover from AMD pollution. RÉSUMÉDrainage minier acide et restauration d'une rivière : effets de la restauration sur la qualité de l'eau, des macroinvertébrés et des poissons Le drainage minier acide (AMD) est une menace importante à la qualité de l'eau dans de nombreux districts miniers du monde, car il peut endommager gravement à la fois la communauté biologique et l'habitat physique des cours d'eau récep-teurs. Il y a relativement peu d'études à long terme sur la capacité des écosys-tèmes des cours d'eau à récupérer de l'AMD. Ici, nous évaluons la récupération à l'échelle d'un bassin versant d'un cours d'eau froid après pollution par AMD en utilisant un suivi fait en 1967 des propriétés biologiques et chimiques de la rivière comme référence pré-restauration. Nous avons échantillonné la chimie de l'eau, les macroinvertébrés benthiques, les poissons, dans tout le bassin au cours du printemps et de l'été 2011. Les résultats de la chimie de l'eau ont révélé que le pH et l'alcalinité totale ont augmenté post-restauration, alors que l'acidité, les concentrations en sulfate et en fer ont diminué. La richesse en taxons à l'échelle du bassin versant, la richesse locale en taxons, la biomasse, la diversité et la densité des macroinvertébrés étaient significativement plus élevées après restauration ;

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Macroinvertebrate community response to acid mine drainage in rivers of the High Andes (Bolivia)

Cited by 57 publications

References 36 publications

Analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates and biotic indices to evaluate water quality in rivers impacted by mining activities in northern Chile

Analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates and biotic indices to evaluate water quality in rivers impacted by mining activities in northern Chile

Benthic Communities of Low-Order Streams Affected by Acid Mine Drainages: A Case Study from Central Europe

Acid mine drainage and stream recovery: Effects of restoration on water quality, macroinvertebrates, and fish

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