Osmoregulation in an alkaline salt lake insect, Ephydra (Hydropyrus) hians Say (Diptera: Ephydridae) in relation to water chemistry

Herbst, David B.; Conte, Frank P.; Brookes, Victor J.

doi:10.1016/0022-1910(88)90125-4

Cited by 41 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…These last two families were the only to register a positive relationship with conductivity according to the DISTLM analysis. Ceratopogonidae and Ephydridae have already been reported as salt tolerant (Berezina, 2003;Kefford et al, 2006), probably due to their high hyperosmotic regulation ability (Barnby, 1987;Herbst et al, 1988;Nemenz, 1960;Sutcliffe, 1960). The physiological processes that allow these taxa to withstand high salinities have a high energetic cost, but they allow them to dominate in extreme habitats, where competition and predation are low (Southwood, 1988).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of potash mining in streams: the Llobregat basin (northeast Spain) as a case study

2016

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Potash mining is significantly increasing the salt concentration of rivers and streams due to lixiviates coming from the mine tailings. In the present study, we have focused on the middle Llobregat basin (northeast Spain), where an important potash mining activity exists from the beginning of the XX century. Up to 50 million tonnes of saline waste have been disposed in the area, mainly composed of sodium chloride. We assessed the ecological status of streams adjacent to the mines by studying different physicochemical and hydromorphological variables, as well as aquatic macroinvertebrates. We found extraordinary high values of salinity in the studied streams, reaching conductivities up to 132.4 mS/cm. Salt-polluted streams were characterized by a deterioration of the riparian vegetation and the fluvial habitat. Both macroinvertebrate richness and abundance decreased with increasing salinity. In the most polluted stream only two families of macroinvertebrates were found: Ephydridae and Ceratopogonidae. According to the biotic indices IBMWP and IMMi-T, none of the sites met the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD; i.e., good ecological status). Overall, we can conclude that potash-mining activities have the potential to cause severe ecological damage to their surrounding streams. This is mainly related to an inadequate management of the mine tailings, leading to highly saline runoff and percolates entering surface waters. Thus, we urge water managers and policy makers to take action to prevent, detect and remediate salt pollution of rivers and streams in potash mining areas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of potash mining in streams: the Llobregat basin (northeast Spain) as a case study

2016

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“…The alkali fly (Ephydra hians), the only insect that can inhabit the alkaline (pH 9 -10) and saline (about 80-100 g/L) waters of Mono Lake in California, is known to have increased growth in alkaline conditions (Mono Lake Committee, 2012;Simeone, 2001;Herbst et al, 1988). Tolerance of BSFL to toxic metabolites from fermentation leachates has not yet been described…”

Section: Bsfl (Hermetia Illucens) Have Been Identified As Instrumentamentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological Treatment of Leachates of Microaerobic Fermentation

Alattar

2000

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Microaerobic fermentation (MF) is a process of controlled degradation of organic waste material that occurs in enclosed fermentors under micro-aerobic conditions at near-room temperature. MF processing of vegetal materials progresses to endpoints in about 2-5 weeks. During MF processing, an acidic leachate rich in organic acids and alcohols is produced. The research presented in this thesis focuses on the efficiency of MF preprocessing of feedstock containing fibrous lignocellulosic (FLC) materials; efficiency of microbial and insect larvae-based treatments of MF leachate; tolerance of the Black Soldier fly larvae (BSFL) to various biological inhibitors common in leachate; and effectiveness of using MF and BSFL solid and liquid processing products as agricultural fertilizers. Results indicate that MF is unsuitable for pre-processing of FLC materials.Enhanced MF leachate treatment may increase efficiency of FLC processing though.Leachate can be efficiently treated using BSFL which decrease overall leachate toxicity.

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“…The contingent effects were that growth and reproduction of several species were reduced (e.g. Herbst 1988;Herbst et al 1988), alkali dust was blown from the exposed lake bed during windy conditions, and predators gained access to the islands. The ecology of some significant migrant waterfowl (especially Wilson's phalarope and the eared grebe) was also threatened.…”

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confidence: 99%

Environmental threats to salt lakes and the likely status of inland saline ecosystems in 2025

2002

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SUMMARYSalt lakes are geographically widespread, numerous and a significant part of the world's inland aquatic ecosystems. They are important natural assets with considerable aesthetic, cultural, economic, recreational, scientific, conservation and ecological values. Some features, notably the composition of the biota, uniquely distinguish them from other aquatic ecosystems. The paper reviews the nature of environmental impacts and their effects upon salt lakes. Its aims are two-fold: to draw attention to the extensive damage that salt lakes have now undergone, and to indicate the likely status of salt lakes in 2025. Salt lakes develop as the termini of inland drainage basins where hydrological inputs and outputs are balanced. These conditions occur in arid and semi-arid regions (approximately one-third of total world land area). Many human activities threaten or have already impacted salt lakes, especially surface inflow diversions, salinization and other catchment activities, mining, pollution, biological disturbances (e.g. introduction of exotic species), and anthropogenically-induced climatic and atmospheric changes. The effects of such activities are always adverse and include changes to the natural character of salt lakes, loss of biodiversity and fundamental limnological changes. The effects are geographically widespread, mostly irreversible, and degrade the values of salt lakes. Four salt lakes are discussed, namely the Aral Sea in central Asia, Mono Lake in California, USA, and Lake Eyre and Lake Cantara South, in Australia. By 2025, most natural salt lakes will have undergone some adverse change. Many permanent ones will have decreased in size and increased in salinity, and many unnatural saline water-bodies will have appeared. In certain regions, many seasonally-filled salt lakes are likely to be drier for longer periods. The extent to which episodically-filled salt lakes will change by 2025 will largely depend upon the nature of climate change in arid regions. Objective cost/benefit analyses of adversely affecting salt lakes are rare, and international bodies have not properly recognized salt lakes as important inland aquatic ecosystems. To redress this situation, there is a need to raise awareness of: (1) the values of salt lakes, (2) the nature of threats and impacts from human activities, and (3) their special management requirements. More effective management and conservation measures need to be implemented. Mono Lake provides an example of what can be achieved in the conservation of salt lakes. Its conservation was largely brought about by (1) the commitment of a nongovernmental organization which recognized its non-economic values, (2) the freedom to express views, (3) a legal system which took account of non-economic values, and (4) a legislature which implemented judicial findings. The conservation of Mono Lake was difficult; the conservation of other salt lakes is likely to be even more difficult. Only international pressure from appropriate organizations will be effective for the conservati...

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Osmoregulation in an alkaline salt lake insect, Ephydra (Hydropyrus) hians Say (Diptera: Ephydridae) in relation to water chemistry

Cited by 41 publications

References 14 publications

Impact of potash mining in streams: the Llobregat basin (northeast Spain) as a case study

Impact of potash mining in streams: the Llobregat basin (northeast Spain) as a case study

Biological Treatment of Leachates of Microaerobic Fermentation

Environmental threats to salt lakes and the likely status of inland saline ecosystems in 2025

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