A macroinvertebrate assessment of Ozark streams located in lead–zinc mining areas of the Viburnum Trend in southeastern Missouri, USA

Abstract

The Viburnum Trend lead-zinc mining subdistrict is located in the southeast Missouri portion of the Ozark Plateau. In 2003 and 2004, we assessed the ecological effects of mining in several watersheds in the region. We included macroinvertebrate surveys, habitat assessments, and analysis of metals in sediment, pore water, and aquatic biota. Macroinvertebrates were sampled at 21 sites to determine aquatic life impairment status (full, partial, or nonsupport) and relative biotic condition scores. Macroinvertebrate biotic condition scores were significantly correlated with cadmium, nickel, lead, zinc, and specific conductance in 2003 (r = -0.61 to -0.68) and with cadmium, lead, and pore water toxic units in 2004 (r = -0.55 to -0.57). Reference sites were fully supporting of aquatic life and had the lowest metals concentrations and among the highest biotic condition scores in both years. Sites directly downstream from mining and related activities were partially supporting, with biotic condition scores 10% to 58% lower than reference sites. Sites located greater distances downstream from mining activities had intermediate scores and concentrations of metals. Results indicate that elevated concentrations of metals originating from mining activities were the underlying cause of aquatic life impairment in several of the streams studied. There was general concurrence among the adversely affected sites in how the various indicators responded to mining activities during the overall study.

Differences Found in the Macroinvertebrate Community Composition in the Presence or Absence of the Invasive Alien Crayfish, Orconectes hylas

“…To provide community-level comparisons between sites, a total of 18 macroinvertebrate indicator metrics were calculated from the data ( Table 1 ). These included core metrics utilized by MDNR for determining aquatic life impairment status of Missouri streams [ 55 ], metrics from national Rapid Bioassessment protocols commonly used to assess community-level responses to disturbance or stress [ 54 ], and metrics utilized during special studies conducted in the Ozark region [ 59 – 61 ].…”

Changes in macroinvertebrate community structure provide evidence of neutral mine drainage impacts

“…Processes & Impacts PAPER macroinvertebrate communities and inferred the general health of aquatic ecosystems in mining-impacted river systems. 2,10 Such impacts include changes in community structure and composition, 3,11 changes in organism physiology and behaviour, 12,13 genetic and morphological mutations, 14,15 and direct mortality. 16 However, in other studies, effects have not been detected or only limited changes to the community have been observed.…”

Spatial Variability of Metal Bioaccumulation in Estuarine Killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) at the Callahan Mine Superfund Site, Brooksville, ME

“…Cd and Pb) retards mental and physical development and fitness, especially in early life stages (Kearns and Atchison 1979; Lefcort et al 1998; Maes et al 2013; Vieira et al 2009). Furthermore, it has been found to decrease wound healing and fin regeneration of fish (Weis and Weis 1976), alter population numbers (Poulton et al 2010), change an ecosystem’s community composition (Clements and Kiffney 1994; McKinley et al 2011; Pascoe et al 1994; van der Merwe et al 2011), shift feeding patterns (Clements and Rees 1997), and decrease production of specific gene products in response to cellular overstimulation (Maes et al 2013). In some cases, individuals can develop physiological tolerance or populations can develop genetic resistance to the metal toxicant and they can survive with sustainable numbers (Bryan and Langston 1992; Weis and Weis 1989).…”