Macroinvertebrate community response to acid mine drainage in rivers of the High Andes (Bolivia).
Several High Andes Rivers are characterized by inorganic water pollution known as acid mine drainage (AMD). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between metal concentrations in the sediments and the macroinvertebrate communities in two river basins affected by AMD. In general, the taxon diversity of the macroinvertebrate community at the family level was low. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni at mining sites were higher than at unpolluted sites. The pH of the water was alkaline (7.0-8.5) in unpolluted sites, whereas it dropped to very low values (<3) at mining sites. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) showed that pH was the best predictor of macroinvertebrate community richness. The number of macroinvertebrate families decreased gradually with increasing acidity, both in pools and riffles, though it is suggested that riffle communities were more affected because they are in closer contact with the acid water.
Asociación Faunagua, Cochabamba, Bolivia; Centre of Limnology and Aquatic Resources, University of San Simón, Casilla 5263, Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Paul André
PA
Van Damme
Caroli
C
Hamel
Alfredo
A
Ayala
Lieven
L
Bervoets
D000143:Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001838:Bolivia; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007313:Insecta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D008906:Mining; D045483:Rivers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
D000143:Acids; D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical