Abstract
The abandoned Sao Domingos mine in South Portugal discharges acid metal pollution in the drainage system. A dynamic pH- and metal-gradient (pH 3.3–6.8) modulated by rainfall at the confluence of a tributary with the acid mine drainage (AMD)-channel, and a small reservoir contaminated with arsenic were sampled for Chironomidae in three different seasons and compared with a control river, to test whether this insect family is sensitive to AMD-pollution and arsenic. The AMD sites contained 18–22 taxa, compared to 22 taxa in the reservoir and 25 taxa in the control site. The chironomid fauna in the AMD was characterised by a high proportion of Chironominae and predatory Tanypodinae, and a low proportion of Orthocladiinae, these subfamilies being useful and easy bioindicators for AMD. The presence of morphological deformities in Ablabesmyia monilis and Procladius sp. is a potential bioindication of AMD but due to low numbers of larvae, it was of limited use. Despite high arsenic levels in the water, the small reservoir contained many taxa forming a typical lentic community.
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