Plecoptera response to acidification in several headwater streams in the Vosges Mountains (northeastern France)

Plecoptera are among the most threatened aquatic invertebrates in industrialised countries as they are very sensitive to many types of pollution. On the contrary, stoneflies are largely considered as tolerant to acidification in comparison with many other macroinvertebrate groups. However, an unders...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biodiversity and conservation 2005-06, Vol.14 (6), p.1525-1539
Main Authors: Tixier, Guillaume, Guérold, François
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acidification
Aquatic insects
Aquatic organisms
Biodiversity
Conservation biology
Creeks & streams
Ecological effects
Ecotoxicology
Endangered & extinct species
Insects
Macroinvertebrates
Mountains
Plecoptera
Relative abundance
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Summary:Plecoptera are among the most threatened aquatic invertebrates in industrialised countries as they are very sensitive to many types of pollution. On the contrary, stoneflies are largely considered as tolerant to acidification in comparison with many other macroinvertebrate groups. However, an understanding of Plecoptera responses to acidification is lacking due firstly to the complexity of most Nemouroidea specific determinations at larval instars and secondly to the poor Plecoptera diversity in North European countries, where most studies on acidification impact were performed. In the present study, we assess the response of Plecoptera species and species assemblages to freshwater acidification by collecting adults, allowing specific determination. Significant relationships were observed between richness and several chemical parameters. The relative abundance of several species was also significantly correlated to pH and acid neutralizing capacity (ANC). The results highlight the importance of species determination to assess the effects of acidification. Direct effects, i.e. ecotoxicological effects, were not the only factor leading to the erosion of Plecoptera diversity. Finally, this study tends to demonstrate that this order of aquatic insects is more severely affected by freshwater acidification than commonly believed.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0960-3115
1572-9710
DOI:10.1007/s10531-004-9790-3