Macroinvertebrate community response to acid mine drainage in rivers of the High Andes (Bolivia)

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2008-12, Vol.156 (3), p.1061-1068
• Main Authors: Van Damme, Paul André, Hamel, Caroli, Ayala, Alfredo, Bervoets, Lieven
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acid mine drainage; Acids - toxicity; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; aquatic invertebrates; Benthic macroinvertebrates; Benthos; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Bolivia; cadmium; copper; Ecosystem; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Fresh water ecosystems; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; heavy metals; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Industrial Waste; Insecta - drug effects; Insecta - physiology; lead; Life Cycle Stages; Metals; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Mining; nickel; prediction; River sediments; Rivers; sediments; species diversity; Synecology; water flow; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; water pollution; Water quality; watersheds; zinc
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.04.018

Several High Andes Rivers are characterized by inorganic water pollution known as acid mine drainage (AMD). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between metal concentrations in the sediments and the macroinvertebrate communities in two river basins affected by AMD. In general, the taxon diversity of the macroinvertebrate community at the family level was low. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni at mining sites were higher than at unpolluted sites. The pH of the water was alkaline (7.0–8.5) in unpolluted sites, whereas it dropped to very low values (