Fish community responses to metal pollution.
The effect of metal pollution on fish communities was assessed at 47 sites, including a Cd and Zn gradient. Fish community structure was assessed by applying diversity indices, index of biotic integrity and the abundance/biomass comparison method (ABC-index). To relate the community responses to metal pollution, toxic unit values for dissolved metals (TU(w)) and for metals in fish liver (TU(t)) were calculated. If all sites were considered only a good relationship was found between the IBI and the TU(w), with 56% of the variation in IBI being described. Within the pollution gradient (sites 1--12) the described variation increased up to 85%. Relating the community structure to TU(t), the described variation in IBI further increased to 87%. Our results indicate that besides water quality other factors influenced diversity and ABC-index. The IBI proved a suitable index for the assessment of metal pollution, provided that other water quality characteristics meet the water quality criteria.
Bervoets
Lieven
L
Department of Biology, Ecophysiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology Group, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium. lieven.bervoets@ua.ac.be
Knaepkens
Guy
G
Eens
Marcel
M
Blust
Ronny
R
D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005399:Fishes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007221:Industry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D014876:Water Pollution; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D015032:Zinc