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75 years after mining ends stream insect diversity is still affected by heavy metals
Hugh Lefcort1, James Vancura, Edward L Lider
1Biology Department, Gonzaga University, 502 E Boone Avenue, Spokane, WA 99258, USA. lefcort@gonzaga.edu
Ecotoxicology (London, England)
|August 4, 2010
Summary
Abandoned mines in Idaho continue to impact stream insect diversity decades later. Even seemingly pristine waters show reduced animal populations and diversity due to heavy metal contamination from historical mining.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecology
- Aquatic Entomology
Background:
- Historical heavy metal mining in the western US has created numerous abandoned mine sites.
- Smaller, forgotten mining operations may pose long-term environmental risks.
- The persistence of mining impacts on seemingly pristine ecosystems is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term ecological effects of abandoned mines on stream insect communities in northern Idaho.
- To correlate aquatic insect diversity with water quality parameters influenced by historical mining.
- To assess if heavy metal contamination persists and affects biodiversity after decades of mine closure.
Main Methods:
- Sampling of larval stream insects at 3 sites along 10 mountain streams in northern Idaho.
- Measurement of stream water parameters: arsenic, cadmium, lead, zinc, pH, temperature, oxygen, and conductivity.
- Application of multivariate statistics to correlate insect community diversity with water quality data.
Main Results:
- Significant negative correlations were found between cadmium and zinc levels and insect community diversity.
- Higher concentrations of cadmium and zinc were associated with fewer total animals, fewer families, and lower Shannon H diversity.
- A reduced proportion of Plecopterans (stoneflies) was observed in streams with elevated cadmium and zinc.
Conclusions:
- Abandoned heavy metal mines continue to impact stream ecosystems, even after 75+ years.
- Cadmium and zinc contamination are key factors reducing aquatic insect biodiversity in these streams.
- The study highlights the long-lasting legacy of historical mining on seemingly pristine mountain stream environments.
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