The influence of the environment in the incorporation of copper and cadmium in scraper insects

In regions with intense agricultural activity, increases in heavy metal concentrations in aquatic environments are common. Among the metals associated with agricultural activities, copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) have been found to directly affect aquatic trophic structures due to the ease of incorpora...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental monitoring and assessment 2021-04, Vol.193 (4), p.215, Article 215
Main Authors: Loureiro, Rafael Chaves, Calisto, Jean Felipe Fossá, Magro, Jacir Dal, Restello, Rozane Maria, Hepp, Luiz Ubiratan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Aquatic environment
Aquatic insects
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Biofilms
Cadmium
Cadmium content
Catchment area
Catchment areas
Copper
Copper - analysis
Drainage area
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Ecosystem
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Management
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental science
Food
Food availability
Food sources
Food supply
Heavy metals
Insecta
Insects
Metal concentrations
Metals
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Rivers
Streams
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
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Summary:In regions with intense agricultural activity, increases in heavy metal concentrations in aquatic environments are common. Among the metals associated with agricultural activities, copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) have been found to directly affect aquatic trophic structures due to the ease of incorporation by primary producers and consuming organisms. Aquatic insects are predominantly found in streams, and their presence is determined by environmental characteristics and food availability. In this study, we seek to understand how the incorporation of Cu and Cd by scraper insects relates to their environment and food sources. We collected water, sediment, biofilm and scraper insect samples in streams with different intensities of agricultural activities in the drainage areas. The intensity of agricultural activities in the catchment area positively influenced the Cu and Cd concentrations in organisms and other aquatic compartments. The metals were readily incorporated by the biofilms. Although the functional characteristics are important to understand the functioning of ecosystems, in this study, we found that the physiological characteristics can be determinants in the concentrations of metals in aquatic insects.
ISSN:0167-6369
1573-2959
DOI:10.1007/s10661-021-08997-0