The role of aphids in the transfer of chemical elements in disturbed Polish saline environments

Abstract

The importance of aphids Aphidoidea in the bioaccumulation of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Cd, and Pb was investigated for degraded environments with high salinity, acidification, and elevated Ca, Mg, and Fe concentrations due to management in a Polish saline region. We studied the transfer of Cd and Pb, and other elements listed above in the anthropogenic environments affected by sodium manufacturing, industrial waste utilization, and agroecosystems (dumping grounds of waste and agricultural cultivation) and in natural environments for the water-soil-plants-aphids continuum. Concentrations of chemical elements in ponds, lakes, rivers, headers of stagnant water, soils, plants, and aphids were established . Concentrations were found to differ in K, Ca, Zn, Co, and Cd concentrations between the soil (K: 10159 μg*g ‐ 1 dw, Ca: 83823, Zn: 117, Co: 8.6, Cd: 12.8), green parts of plants (K: 27101 μg*g ‐ 1 dw, Ca: 20117, Zn: 142, Co: 2.5, Cd: 2.8), and aphids (K: 165243 μg*g ‐ 1 dw, Ca: 154228, Zn: 227, Co: 16.3, Cd: 16.7), especially in the anthropogenic environments. Generally, accumulation of these elements increased from soil through plants to aphids. The bioaccumulation of chemical elements by aphids was correlated with higher concentrations of metals in anthropogenically impacted areas, where the contribution of aphids in element-element interactions was significant. Aphids absorb, accumulate, and selectively remove in most cases on average 50‐–600% of the amount of chemicals from plants, with the exception of Na and Mn. Bioaccumulation and bioavailability of chemical elements in aphids may be a step in the transfer of toxins in the food chain, which is worthy of further exploration. • Aphids and plants are involved in the transfer of chemicals between trophic levels • Aphids as a link in food chains can be a source of elements to other organisms • Bioaccumulation of chemicals by aphids is connected with higher [toxic metals] • Metal bioavailability water-soil-plant continuum allows for accumulation by aphids • Aphids remove metals from soil and plants (soil remediation)