Critical tissue residue approach linking accumulated metals in aquatic insects to population and community-level effects

Travis S. Schmidt; William H. Clements; Robert E. Zuellig; Katharine A. Mitchell; Stan E. Church; Richard B. Wanty; Carma A. San Juan; Monique Adams; Paul J. Lamothe

doi:10.1021/es200215s

USGS · 70005168

Critical tissue residue approach linking accumulated metals in aquatic insects to population and community-level effects

Travis S. Schmidt·William H. Clements·Robert E. Zuellig·Katharine A. Mitchell·Stan E. Church·Richard B. Wanty·Carma A. San Juan·Monique Adams·Paul J. Lamothe

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Abstract

Whole body Zn concentrations in individuals ( n = 825) from three aquatic insect taxa (mayflies Rhithrogena spp. and Drunella spp. and the caddisfly Arctopsyche grandis ) were used to predict effects on populations and communities ( n = 149 samples). Both mayflies accumulated significantly more Zn than the caddisfly. The presence/absence of Drunella spp. most reliably distinguished sites with low and high Zn concentrations; however, population densities of mayflies were more sensitive to increases in accumulated Zn. Critical tissue residues (634 μg/g Zn for Drunella spp. and 267 μg/g Zn for Rhithrogena spp.) caused a 20% reduction in maximum (90th quantile) mayfly densities. These critical tissue residues were associated with exposure to 7.0 and 3.9 μg/L dissolved Zn for Drunella spp. and Rhithrogena spp., respectively. A threshold in a measure of taxonomic completeness (observed/expected) was observed at 5.4 μg/L dissolved Zn. Dissolved Zn concentrations associated with critical tissue residues in mayflies were also associated with adverse effects in the aquatic community as a whole. These effects on populations and communities occurred at Zn concentrations below the U.S. EPA hardness-adjusted continuous chronic criterion.

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Travis S. Schmidt, William H. Clements, Robert E. Zuellig, Katharine A. Mitchell, Stan E. Church, Richard B. Wanty, Carma A. San Juan, Monique Adams, Paul J. Lamothe. 2011-07-27. Critical tissue residue approach linking accumulated metals in aquatic insects to population and community-level effects. https://doi.org/10.1021/es200215s

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