EFFECTS OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER DISCHARGES ON AQUATIC COMMUNITIES,BOISE RWER,IDAHO1

ABSTRACT: Aquatic communities in the Boise River were examined from October 1987 to March 1988 to determine whether they were adversely affected by trace elements in effluents from two Boise wastewater treatment facilities. Trace-element concentrations in the Boise River were less than or near analytical-detection levels and were less than chronic toxicity criteria when detectable. Insect communities colonizing artificial substrates upstream and downstream from the wastewater treatment facilities were strongly associated, and coefficients of community loss indicated that effluents had benign enriching effects. The distributions of trace-element-intolerant mayflies indicated that trace-element concentrations in effluents did not adversely affect intolerant organisms in the Boise River. Condition factor of whitefish was significantly increased downstream from the Lander Street wastewater treatment facility and was significantly decreased downstream from the West Boise wastewater treatment facility.     

Diets of periphytonic invertebrates in a small river

Potential food accessibility in the periphyton has been estimated, and diets of 13 invertebrate species typical of lithorheophilic biocenoses have been compared. Factors responsible for spatial heterogeneity in the composition of food consumed by invertebrates are discussed with special regard to consumption of algae.     

Influence of temperature and pH on the effects of zinc and copper on proteolytic activities of the intestinal mucosa of planktivorous and benthophagous fishes and their potential preys

Influences of temperature (0 and 20°C) and pH (3.0, 5.0, and 7.4) on the effect of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) on proteolytic activities of intestinal mucosa in planktivorous (blue bream, bleak), bentophagous (bream, roach) fishes and their potential preys (pond snail Limnaea stagnalis, planorbid Planorbarius purpura, dreissena Dreissena polymorpha, midge larvae Chironomus sp., water flea Daphnia longispina and total zooplankton) are revealed in this article. Cu decreases the caseinolytic and hemoglobinolytic activities in both fish and their preys more than Zn at temperature 20°C and pH 7.4. Low temperature intensifies the negative effect of the metals on the protease activity in fish (in the case of Zn 5–10 times, in the case of Cu 5–30 times). In fish prey species, the negative effect of the metals on the proteinase activity may be more significant. The influence of pH on Zn and Cu effects is less pronounced than that of low temperature. Maximum reduction of enzyme activities is observed for the combined action of low temperature and pH as well as of the studied metals.     

Pre-and Post-Liming Aquatic Communities and Trout Diets

In the period following liming and before the introduction of brown trout to Loch Fleet, there was a reduction in the numbers of invertebrates, including the Chironomidae, Oligochaeta and Hydracarina in the loch, but an overall increase in invertebrates in the inlet and outlet streams. This was followed in the loch by a recovery in the numbers of certain groups (particularly the Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera) to pre-liming levels in spite of the introduction of the trout.

The diets of the trout comprised a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial organisms ranging in size from Fprotozoans to newts and are dominated by chironomids. Opportunistic type of feeding as found in the present study appears to be typical of the brown trout and is reported for many water bodies by other workers.

Significant differences (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001) were found in the numbers and weights of certain food organisms in the stomachs of brown trout caught by different fishing methods in the summers of 1992 and 1993. Fish caught by gill net contained fewer planktonic crustaceans and chironomids, but greater numbers of trichopterans and terrestrial organisms, than in those caught by fly and spinner. the differences are probably related to differences in the depth at which the fish, caught by the various methods, were feeding.     

Habitat and Biodiversity of On-Farm Water Storages: A Case Study in Southeast Queensland, Australia

On-farm water storages (locally known as farm dams or farm ponds) are an important part of many agricultural landscapes, as they provide a reliable source of water for irrigation and stock. Although these waterbodies are artificially constructed and morphologically simple, there is increasing interest in their potential role as habitat for native flora and fauna. In this article, we present results from a case study which examined the habitat characteristics (such as water physical and chemical parameters, benthic metabolism, and macrophyte cover) and the macrophyte and macroinvertebrate biodiversity of eight farm ponds on four properties in the Stanley Catchment, Southeast Queensland, Australia. Each landowner was interviewed to allow a comparison of the management of the ponds with measured habitat and biodiversity characteristics, and to understand landowners’ motivations in making farm pond management decisions. The physical and chemical water characteristics of the study ponds were comparable to the limited number of Australian farm ponds described in published literature. Littoral zones supported forty-five macroinvertebrate families, with most belonging to the orders Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Odonata, and Diptera. Invertebrate community composition was strongly influenced by littoral zone macrophyte structure, with significant differences between ponds with high macrophyte cover compared to those with bare littoral zones. The importance of littoral zone macrophytes was also suggested by a significant positive relationship between invertebrate taxonomic richness and macrophyte cover. The landowners in this study demonstrated sound ecological knowledge of their farm ponds, but many had not previously acknowledged them as having high habitat value for native flora and fauna. If managed for aquatic organisms as well as reliable water sources, these artificial habitats may help to maintain regional biodiversity, particularly given the large number of farm ponds across the landscape.     

Edible Invertebrates Among Amazonian Indians: A Critical Review of Disappearing Knowledge

For the indigenous populations of Amazonia, invertebrates constitute an important component of the diet. We have information on entomophagy for 39 ethnic groups, about 21,4 per cent of the 182 groups known in the Amazon Basin, but the use of this non conventional food resource is probably much more widespread. We present here a data-base of all the information available for each ethnic group regarding the species included in the diet, the scientific and the ethno name if known, the stage of life-cycle consumed, the manner of preparation and, when known, the host plant. This data-base lists 115 species scientifically identified and 131 ethno names. In addition, we have information about other 384 ethno names, with unsecure link to the Linnean taxonomy suggesting that local knowledge is very extensive. The data-base represents not only an easy to consult resource, but also a support for further research. The knowledge of the relations between indigenous populations and ecosystem is indeed the base for the natural and cultural biodiversity preservation.     

Genotoxicity biomarkers in the amphipod Gammarus elvirae exposed in vivo to mercury and lead,and basal levels of DNA damage in two cell types

The present work deals with the application of genotoxicity biomarkers by means of the Comet assay in haemocytes and spermatozoa of the crustacean Gammarus elvirae exposed in vivo to heavy metals. Furthermore, a basal levels (BLs) study of DNA damage in the two cell types considered for two different gammarids species, G. elvirae and Echinogammarus veneris, was carried out. It is important to identify factors that influence the outcome of the assay in order to obtain reliable and reproducible results usable for risk assessment purposes. Our results highlight that the Italian legal limits for Hg and Pb, respectively, 0.5 and 50?µg/L, are inadequate for establishing safety thresholds in the aquatic environment. Furthermore, the freshwater invertebrate G. elvirae, used for the first time to measure the effect of genotoxicants, is a good candidate for evaluating the genotoxicity damage induced by heavy metals. Our results concerning spermatozoa show excessively variable responses and high BLs.     

三江平原沼泽湿地底栖无脊椎动物群落特征

为探明现阶段三江平原沼泽湿地底栖无脊椎动物群落结构及物种多样性,于2017年春、夏、秋3个季节对6个样点开展了调查.共记录3门41科72种,以水生昆虫和腹足纲为主.平均密度为（139.68±29.13）ind./m²,季节上,底栖无脊椎动物密度表现为秋季>春季>夏季.三江平原沼泽湿地主要优势种具有一定的季节性变化,其中,西伯利亚盘螺Valvata sibirica为3个季节共有优势种.指示物种分析表明：春季指示种为Potamonectes sp.,夏季指示种为Lethocerus sp.、Gyraulus centrifugus、Erpobdellidae sp.;秋季指示种为Sgementina nitida.整体上,春季Shannon-Wiener多样性指数（H'）、均匀度指数（J）、Margalef丰富度指数（d_M）均比夏、秋季高.单因素方差分析表明,Shannon-Wiener多样性指数（F=1.480,p=0.259）、Margalef丰富度指数（F=0.056,p=0.946）、Pielou均匀性指数（F=2.038,p=0.165）均不存在季节性差异.     

Macroinvertebrates As Bioindicators of Water Pollution in Streams Draining Dairy Farming Catchments

Runoff from intensive dairy farming systems can impair the quality of catchment waters, with potential ecological and human health implications. A water quality study was carried out in three streams in a predominantly dairy farming region, with the aim of assessing the effects of diffused- and point-sourced inputs on a number of water quality parameters and benthic macroinvertebrates. the results showed significant increases in streamwater biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄-N) and molybdate reactive phosphorus (MRP) concentrations between the farm reaches. These changes in water quality appeared to be due largely to the point-sourced inputs from farmyards, and had a significant effect on the ability of the water to support a healthy and diverse community of invertebrates. the results also showed that concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO) and ammonium in streamwater were the two most important parameters studied that were inversely related to the invertebrate scores.