Original scientific paper

The impact of physico-chemical indicators and metals on the EPT community of mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (EPT)

Lidija Kladarić orcid.org/0000-0002-0382-8116 ; Hrvatske vode, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ivor Dukić ; Sveučilište u Splitu, Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet, Split, Hrvatska
Renata Ćuk orcid.org/0000-0002-6863-5227 ; Hrvatske vode, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Krešimir Maldini ; Hrvatske vode, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Simana Milović ; Hrvatske vode, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Aleksandar Popijač ; Javna ustanova "Nacionalni park Mljet", Goveđari, Hrvatska

Abstract

The paper investigates the relationship between the number of taxa within three orders of aquatic insects - Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies) and Trichoptera (caddisflies), the total taxa (EPT) and EPT individuals in the benthic macroinvertebrate community (EPT[%]), including dissolved metals in the water and physico-chemical parameters. The presence of EPT community with numerous taxa and a large share in the total macroinvertebrate community is usually associated with good water quality of freshwater ecosystems. All collected data used in this study originate from the national monitoring programme of surface water quality within a period of 8 years (2010 - 2017). In total, 247 samples of benthic macroinvertebrates from 172 sampling stations were analysed. All samples were collected according to the AQEM sampling protocol. The water used for determining the concentrations of dissolved metals and basic physico-chemical parameters was sampled in the same year when the samples of macrozoobenthos were collected, and all mentioned parameters were measured according to standard analytical methods for analysing surface water quality (ISO standards). The statistical analysis showed a significant negative correlation of the EPT assemblage (number of taxa of Ephemeroptera (E), Plecoptera (P), Trichoptera (T) and altogether (EPT), as well as the share of EPT individuals in the sample (EPT [%]) with physico-chemical parameters, such as temperature and (P) = -0.528, electric conductivity and (P) = -0.485, total hardness and EPT = -0.493, including a weak negative correlation with alkalinity and total suspended solids. The Spearman's coefficient of the correlation indicated a statistically significant negative correlation of Manganese with P and T (-0.540 and -0.380, respectively) and of Arsenic with EPT[%] (-0.421). The correlations with other metals (Copper, Zinc, Cadmium, Chrome, Nickel, Lead, Mercury and Iron) were weak to insignificant. The results of the present study suggest that the use of EPT as bioindicators may be an important strategy for detecting Manganese and Arsenic pollution in aquatic environments.

Keywords

Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, physico-chemical indicators, metals, biomonitoring, arsenic

Hrčak ID:

254513

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/254513

Publication date:

30.12.2020.

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