The influence of heavy metals and predation on benthic macroinvertebrate communities from polluted and unpolluted streams
Conference
·
OSTI ID:211960
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States). Dept. of Fishery and Wildlife Biology
The author tested the hypothesis that benthic macroinvertebrate communities from a stream polluted by historic mining operations were tolerant of heavy metals but more susceptible to predation compared to communities from an unpolluted stream. Benthic communities obtained from reference (Cache la Poudre River) and chronically-polluted (Arkansas River) streams in Colorado were transferred to the CSU Stream Research Laboratory and placed into one of 16 stream microcosms. In the first experiment, communities in treatment streams were exposed to 220 {micro}g Zn/L, 24 {micro}g Cu/L and 2.2 {micro}g Cd/L for 10 d. In a second experiment, communities in treatment streams were exposed to predatory stoneflies (Hesperperla pacifica). Effects of metals were significantly greater on mayflies (Rhithrogena hageni, Baetis sp., Ephemerella infrequens) from the unpolluted Cache la Poudre River than from the Arkansas River. In addition, exposure to metals increased drift rate of invertebrates collected from the unpolluted stream but had no effect on invertebrates from the Arkansas River. In contrast to these results, effects of predation on survival and drift were greater for communities from the polluted stream. The results demonstrate that while macroinvertebrate populations in chronically-polluted habitats may acclimate to heavy metals, these populations are more susceptible to biotic interactions.
- OSTI ID:
- 211960
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Tolerance of benethic macroinvertebrate populations and communities to heavy metals: The influence of previous exposure
Structural responses of benthic macroinvertebrate communities from different stream orders to zinc
Bioaccumulation of heavy metals by benthic invertebrates at the Arkansas River, Colorado
Journal Article
·
Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995
· Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America
·
OSTI ID:95766
Structural responses of benthic macroinvertebrate communities from different stream orders to zinc
Journal Article
·
Mon Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1994
· Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5033198
Bioaccumulation of heavy metals by benthic invertebrates at the Arkansas River, Colorado
Journal Article
·
Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993
· Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:7273383