The use of invertebrate body burdens to predict ecological effects of metal mixtures in mining-impacted waters

Abstract

The present study investigated whether invertebrate body burdens can be used to predict metal-induced effects on aquatic invertebrate communities. Total dissolved metal levels and four invertebrate taxa (Leuctra sp., Simuliidae, Rhithrogena sp. and Perlodidae) were sampled in 36 headwater streams located in the north-west part of England. Using the River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification System (RIVPACS) taxonomic completeness of invertebrate communities was assessed. Quantile regression was used to relate invertebrate body burdens to a maximum (90th quantile) ecological response, both for all metals separately and in mixtures. Significant relations between Cu, Zn and Pb burdens in Leuctra sp. (Zn, Pb), Simuliidae (Zn, Pb), Rhithrogena sp. (Cu, Zn, Cu+Zn) and Perlodidae (Zn) and both taxonomic completeness (O/E taxa) and Biological Monitoring Working Party index scores (O/E BMWP) were observed. Correspondingly the obtained Cu–Zn mixture model an acceptable impact of 5% change in taxonomic completeness is expected at Rhithrogena sp. body burdens of 1.9μmolg−1 Cu (121μgg−1 Cu) in case of low Zn bioavailability (Rhithrogena sp. Zn body burden of 2.9μmolg−1 or 190μgg−1), which will drop to 0.30μmolg−1 Cu (19.1μgg−1 Cu) in case of higher Zn bioavailability (Zn body burden of 72.6μmolg−1 or 4747μgg−1). For Zn, 5% change in taxonomic completeness is expected at Rhithrogena sp. body burdens of 76.4μmolg−1 Zn (4995μgg−1 Zn) in case of low Cu bioavailability (Cu body burden of 0.19μmolg−1 or 12.1μgg−1), which will drop to 6.6μmolg−1 Zn (432μgg−1 Zn) at higher Cu bioavailability (Cu body burden of 1.74μmolg−1 or 111μgg−1). Overall, the present study concludes that invertebrate body burdens can be used to (1) predict metal-induced ecological effects and (2) to derive critical burdens for the protection of aquatic invertebrate communities.