Sensitivity of macroinvertebrate indicator taxa to metal gradients in mining areas in Northern Spain

Costas, Noemi; Pardo, Isabel; Méndez-Fernández, Leire; Martinez-Madrid, Maite; Rodríguez, Pilar

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.04.059

Cited by 39 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Macroinvertebrate communities living in water bodies polluted with heavy metals are characterized by lower abundance and/or biomass [ 69 , 70 ]. Our findings confirm earlier reports that there is a clear causal relationship between metal concentrations and diversity of benthic communities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Heavy Metals in Lake Water and Sediments on Bottom Invertebrates Inhabiting the Brackish Coastal Lake Łebsko on the Southern Baltic Coast

Mrozińska

Bąkowska

2020

IJERPH

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Lake Łebsko is the largest and most productive coastal lake of the southern Baltic Sea to which it is permanently connected. The shoreline is well-developed, and the lake is divided into three parts: eastern, central, and western. Seawater intrusion affects most strongly the eastern part, where the Łeba River connects it with the sea. Samples of water and sediments were collected in 2014–2015. In the same places and time interval, bottom fauna was collected to determine the influence of environmental predictors on its qualitative-quantitative structure. Metals Cr (chromium), Pb (lead), Ni (nickel), Cu (copper), and Al (aluminium) in the samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Most of the analyzed physicochemical variables of water were significantly higher in the eastern part: conductivity, salinity, sulfates (p < 0.0001) and chlorides (p = 0.01). Metal concentrations in water did not differ significantly between the lake parts, but in sediments they were generally higher in the western part. During the study, we detected significant changes in descriptors and abundance of the major groups of benthic fauna (Oligochaeta and Diptera), mostly between the eastern and western parts. BIO-ENV analysis showed that the benthic community of Lake Łebsko is shaped primarily by physicochemical variables of water (42% of the variance), linked with intrusion of seawater. Secondarily, the structure of the benthic community is affected by the amounts of heavy metals in sediments (31%) and water (12%). The findings can help us improve the principles of management of coastal lakes, including modification of hydrological conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Heavy Metals in Lake Water and Sediments on Bottom Invertebrates Inhabiting the Brackish Coastal Lake Łebsko on the Southern Baltic Coast

Mrozińska

Bąkowska

2020

IJERPH

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“…Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN) from the "TITAN2" package (Baker & King, 2010) was used to identify the change-point response of mayfly communities to the predictor variable that explained most of the variation in assemblage structure. The TITAN method uses the standardized z-scores obtained from indicator species analysis (Indicator Value) to detect the taxon-specific change points and the response direction of a taxon along an environmental gradient (Baker & King, 2010;Costas et al, 2018). Standardized taxa responses increasing at the change point (z+) are distinguished from those decreasing (z) and those showing no response (Baker & King, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The frequency and abundance of more sensitive mayfly taxa decline along stressful environmental gradients over space or time, resulting in changing species composition and dominance (Costas, Pardo, Méndez-Fernández, Martínez-Madrid, & Rodríguez, 2018;Klonowska-Olejnik & Skalski, 2014). Knowledge of mayfly community composition, seasonal dynamics, distribution, and their narrow habitat sensitivity extends their utility value beyond just indicators and surrogates of habitat change (Bauernfeind & Moog, 2000;Vilenica, Ivković, Sartori, & Mihaljević, 2017) to being agents for adaptive and holistic conservation planning of freshwater resources (Ramulifho, Rivers-Moore, Dallas, & Foord, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of hydro‐environmental factors in Mayfly (Ephemeroptera, Insecta) community structure: Identifying threshold responses

Ramulifho

Foord

Rivers-Moore

2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Freshwater organisms are threatened by changes in stream flow and water temperature regimes due to global climate change and anthropogenic activities. Threats include the disappearance of narrow‐tolerance species and loss of favorable thermal conditions for cold‐adapted organisms. Mayflies are an abundant and diverse indicator of river health that performs important functional roles. The relative importance of key hydro‐environmental factors such as water temperature and flow volumes in structuring these communities has rarely been explored in the tropical regions of Africa. Here, we investigate the response of mayfly species diversity to these factors in the Luvuvhu catchment, a strategic water source area in the arid northeastern region of South Africa. Mayfly larvae were sampled monthly in stones‐in‐current biotopes across 23 sites over a one‐year period. The relationship between these environmental drivers and mayfly diversity was modeled using linear mixed effects models (LMMs) and a model‐based multivariate approach. Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN) was used to model the response of mayfly species to important gradients and identify thresholds of change. Site‐specific characteristic were the most important predictor of mayfly diversity, and there was considerable variation over time, with mayfly diversity peaking during winter. Along this, gradient temperature was the best predictor of assemblage structure, with five out of six reliable indicator species being cold‐adapted, and a community threshold response at 19°C. Results support laboratory‐based thresholds of temperature for mayfly species survival and development, extending empirical evidence to include field‐based observations. Increased global (climate change) and local (riparian vegetation removal, impoundments) changes are predicted to have negative impacts on mayfly diversity and ultimately on ecosystem function.

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“…Responses of ant assemblages to gradients in soil and habitat structure were modelled using Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN) from the "TITAN2" package (Baker & King, 2010). This method uses standardizedz -scores obtained from indicator species analysis (Indicator Value) to detect the species-specific change points, and the direction of response along a gradient (Baker & King, 2010;Costas, Pardo, Mendez-Fernandez, Martinez-Madrid, & Rodriguez, 2018). Increasing responses (z+) are distinguished from those decreasing (z-) at a specific change point (Baker & King, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Pugnacious ant (Anoplolepis custodiens) confounds ant assemblage responses to bush encroachment

Munyai¹,

Foord²,

Slotow³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Habitat structure is a key determinant of variation in biodiversity. The effects of increased vertical and horizontal vegetation structure can result in marked shifts in animal communities. This is particularly true for ants in response to woody thickening, with predicted negative impacts on ant diversity. We used pitfall traps to study the response of epigeic ants in two co-occurring dominant habitats (closed and open) of an African savanna biome experiencing extensive woody thickening. Although species richness was higher in open habitats, evenness was significantly lower. Thickening explained significant amounts of variation in ant composition, but site-specific characteristics and seasonality were more important. These site-specific characteristics were largely linked to Anoplolepis custodiens, a species that were locally abundant in open habitats with clayey soils, where they often accounted for more than 90% of all ant activity. As A. custodiens also responds positively to disturbance, indiscriminate bush clearing could lead to knock on effects associated with the numerical and behavioural dominance of this species.

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Sensitivity of macroinvertebrate indicator taxa to metal gradients in mining areas in Northern Spain

Cited by 39 publications

References 53 publications

Effects of Heavy Metals in Lake Water and Sediments on Bottom Invertebrates Inhabiting the Brackish Coastal Lake Łebsko on the Southern Baltic Coast

Effects of Heavy Metals in Lake Water and Sediments on Bottom Invertebrates Inhabiting the Brackish Coastal Lake Łebsko on the Southern Baltic Coast

The role of hydro‐environmental factors in Mayfly (Ephemeroptera, Insecta) community structure: Identifying threshold responses

A Pugnacious ant (Anoplolepis custodiens) confounds ant assemblage responses to bush encroachment

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