Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Benthic indicators of sediment quality associated with run-of-river reservoirs

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems have been fragmented by the construction of large numbers of dams. In addition to disruption of ecological continuity and physical disturbance downstream, accumulation of large amounts of sediment within run-of-river reservoirs constitutes a latent ecotoxic risk to aquatic communities. To date, run-of-river reservoirs and ecotoxic risks associated with contaminated sediment to the biodiversity and functioning of such systems are little studied. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to describe macroinvertebrate assemblages, and the functioning of these systems, and to propose indicators of sediment contamination to integrate in in-situ risk assessment methodology. To identify specific assemblages of run-of-river reservoirs, we first compared macroinvertebrate assemblages and their biotrait profiles (i.e. from a database of biological and ecological traits) in reservoirs (n = 6) and associated river sites (upstream and downstream of dams). Then, we compared responses of assemblages and biotrait profiles to sediment contamination of the banks and channels of reservoirs to select the most useful spatial scale to identify sediment contamination. Nineteen indicator taxa were observed to be specifically associated with channel habitats of reservoirs. Among these, the abundance of three taxa (Tanypodinae (Diptera), Ephemerella (Ephemeroptera) and Atherix (Diptera)) revealed the effect of metal sediment contamination. “Between-reservoirs” differences in their biotrait profile were found along the contamination gradient, with a shift of communities’ composition and functionality, and an increase in functional similarity. Many traits (response traits), for example “maximum size”, “transverse distribution”, “substrate preferences”, “saprobity”, “temperature”, “resistance forms”, and “locomotion”, were specifically linked to contamination of sediments by metals. This study indicates how sediment contamination can change the structural and functional composition of run-of-river reservoir assemblages. Indicator taxa and response traits identified in this study could improve current risk assessment methodology and potentially enable prediction of the risks of contaminated sediments stored in reservoirs in downstream ecosystems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • A.F.N.O.R., 2009. Qualité écologique des milieux aquatiques. Qualité de l’eau. Prélèvements des macro-invertébrés aquatiques en rivières peu profondes. In: Normalisation, A. F. d. (ed) norme homologuée T 90-333.

  • Archaimbault, V., P. Usseglio-Polatera, J. Garric, J. G. Wasson & M. Babut, 2010. Assessing pollution of toxic sediment in streams using bio-ecological traits of benthic macroinvertebrates. Freshwater Biology 55(7): 1430–1446.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Armitage, P. D., M. J. Bowes & H. M. Vincent, 2007. Long-term changes in macroinvertebrate communities of a heavy metal polluted stream: the river Nent (Cumbria, UK) after 28 years. River Research and Applications 23(9): 997–1015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balmford, A., L. Bennun, B. ten Brink, D. Cooper, I. M. Côté, P. Crane, A. Dobson, N. Dudley, I. Dutton, R. E. Green, R. D. Gregory, J. Harrison, E. T. Kennedy, C. Kremen, N. Leader-Williams, T. E. Lovejoy, G. Mace, R. May, P. Mayaux, P. Morling, J. Phillips, K. Redford, T. H. Ricketts, J. P. Rodriguez, M. Sanjayan, P. J. Schei, A. S. van Jaarsveld & B. A. Walther, 2005. The Convention on Biological Diversity’s 2010 target. Science 307(5707): 212–213.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beasley, G. & P. E. Kneale, 2003. Assessment of heavy metal and PAH contamination of urban streambed sediments on macroinvertebrates. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution: Focus 4(2–3): 563–578.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cain, D. J., S. N. Luoma, J. L. Carter & S. V. Fend, 1992. Aquatic insects as bioindicators of trace element contamination in cobble-bottom rivers and streams. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 49(10): 2141–2154.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cairns, M. A., A. V. Nebeker, J. H. Gakstater & W. L. Griffis, 1984. Toxicity of copper-spiked sediments to freshwater invertebrates. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 3: 435–445.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Callier, M. D., M. Richard, C. W. McKindsey, P. Archambault & G. Desrosiers, 2009. Responses of benthic macrofauna and biogeochemical fluxes to various levels of mussel biodeposition: an in situ “benthocosm” experiment. Marine Pollution Bulletin 58(10): 1544–1553.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calow, P. & V. E. Forbes, 2003. Peer Reviewed: does ecotoxicology inform ecological risk assessment? Environmental Science and Technology 37(7): 146A–151A.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carignan, V. & M. A. Villard, 2002. Selecting indicator species to monitor ecological integrity: a review. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 78(1): 45–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Casanoves, F., L. Pla, J. A. Di Rienzo & S. Díaz, 2010. FDiversity: a software package for the integrated analysis of functional diversity. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 2(3): 233–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, P. M., 1990. The sediment quality triad approach to determining pollution-induced degradation. Science of the Total Environment 97–98: 815–825.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charvet, S., B. Statzner, P. Usseglio-Polatera & B. Dumont, 2001. Traits of benthic macroinvertebrates in semi-natural French streams: an initial application to biomonitoring in Europe. Freshwater Biology 43(2): 277–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chessel, D., A. B. Dufour & J. Thioulouse, 2004. The ade4 package-I: one-table methods. R News 4(1): 5–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clements, W. H., 1994. Benthic invertebrate community responses to heavy metals in the Upper Arkansas River Basin, Colorado. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 13(1): 30–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colas, F., V. Archaimbault & S. Devin, 2011. Scale-dependency of macroinvertebrate communities: responses to contaminated sediments within run-of-river dams. Science of the Total Environment 409(7): 1336–1343.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Culp, J. M., D. G. Armanini, M. J. Dunbar, J. M. Orlofske, N. L. Poff, A. I. Pollard, A. G. Yates & G. C. Hose, 2010. Incorporating traits in aquatic biomonitoring to enhance causal diagnosis and prediction. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 7(2): 187–197.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dahlbäck, B. & L. A. H. Gunnarson, 1981. Sedimentation and sulfate reduction under a mussel culture. Marine Biology 63(3): 269–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Cãceres, M. & P. Legendre, 2009. Associations between species and groups of sites: indices and statistical inference. Ecology 90(12): 3566–3574.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dolédec, S. & B. Statzner, 2008. Invertebrate traits for the biomonitoring of large European rivers: an assessment of specific types of human impact. Freshwater Biology 53(3): 617–634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ducrot, V., P. Usseglio-Polatera, A. R. R. Péry, J. Mouthon, M. Lafont, M. C. Roger, J. Garric & J. F. Férard, 2005. Using aquatic macroinvertebrate species traits to build test batteries for sediment toxicity assessment: accounting for the diversity of potential biological responses to toxicants. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 24(9): 2306–2315.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dufrêne, M. & P. Legendre, 1997. Species assemblages and indicator species: the need for a flexible asymmetrical approach. Ecological Monographs 67(3): 345–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elosegi, A., J. Díez & M. Mutz, 2010. Effects of hydromorphological integrity on biodiversity and functioning of river ecosystems. Hydrobiologia 657(1): 199–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Escher, B. I. & J. L. M. Hermens, 2002. Modes of action in ecotoxicology: their role in body burdens, species sensitivity, QSARs, and mixture effects. Environmental Science and Technology 36(20): 4201–4217.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Estebe, A., D. R. Thevenot, H. Boudries & J. M. Mouchel, 1997. Urban runoff impacts on particulate metal and hydrocarbon concentrations in river Seine: suspended solid and sediment transport. Water Science and Technology 36(8–9): 185–193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forbes, V. E., P. Calow & R. M. Sibly, 2001. Are current species extrapolation models a good basis for ecological risk assessment? Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20(2): 442–447.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Free, G., A. Solimini, B. Rossaro, L. Marziali, R. Giacchini, B. Paracchini, M. Ghiani, S. Vaccaro, B. Gawlik, R. Fresner, G. Santner, M. Schönhuber & A. Cardoso, 2009. Modelling lake macroinvertebrate species in the shallow sublittoral: relative roles of habitat, lake morphology, aquatic chemistry and sediment composition. Hydrobiologia 633(1): 123–136.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Griswold, M. W., R. W. Berzinis, T. L. Crisman & S. W. Golladay, 2008. Impacts of climatic stability on the structural and functional aspects of macroinvertebrate communities after severe drought. Freshwater Biology 53(12): 2465–2483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gurrieri, J. T., 1998. Distribution of metals in water and sediment and effects on aquatic biota in the upper Stillwater River basin. Montana. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 64(1–3): 83–100.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, S. S. C. & A. G. Hildrew, 2001. Epilithic communities and habitat heterogeneity in a lake littoral. Journal of Animal Ecology 70(4): 692–707.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heilskov, A. C. H. & M. Holmer, 2001. Effects of benthic fauna on organic matter mineralization in fish-farm sediments: importance of size and abundance. ICES Journal of Marine Science 58(2): 427–434.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heino, J., 2000. Lentic macroinvertebrate assemblage structure along gradients in spatial heterogeneity, habitat size and water chemistry. Hydrobiologia 418(1): 229–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ippolito, A., R. Todeschini & M. Vighi, 2012. Sensitivity assessment of freshwater macroinvertebrates to pesticides using biological traits. Ecotoxicology 21(2): 336–352.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keddy, P. A., 1992. Assembly and response rules: two goals for predictive community ecology. Journal of Vegetation Science 3(2): 157–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koivisto, S., M. Ketola & M. Walls, 1992. Comparison of five cladoceran species in short- and long-term copper exposure. Hydrobiologia 248(2): 125–136.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lafont, M., L. Grapentine, Q. Rochfort, J. Marsalek, G. Tixier & P. Breil, 2007. Bioassessment of wet-weather pollution impacts on fine sediments in urban waters by benthic indices and the sediment quality triad. Water Science and Technology 56(9): 13–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, S., I. P. Vaughan & S. J. Ormerod, 2009. Scale-dependent effects of fine sediments on temperate headwater invertebrates. Freshwater Biology 54(1): 203–219.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, S., G. Pace & S. J. Ormerod, 2011. Experimental effects of sediment deposition on the structure and function of macroinvertebrate assemblages in temperate streams. River Research and Applications 27(2): 257–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leung, K. M. Y., J. S. Gray, W. K. Li, G. C. S. Lui, Y. Wang & P. K. S. Lam, 2005. Deriving sediment quality guidelines from field-based species sensitivity distributions. Environmental Science and Technology 39(14): 5148–5156.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marquès, M. J., E. Martinez-Conde & J. V. Rovira, 2003. Effects of zinc and lead mining on the benthic macroinvertebrates of a fluvial ecosystem. Water, Air, and Soil pollution 148(1): 363–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGeoh, M. A. & S. L. Chown, 1998. Scaling up the value of bioindicators. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 13(2): 46–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGill, B. J., B. J. Enquist, E. Weiher & M. Westoby, 2006. Rebuilding community ecology from functional traits. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 21(4): 178–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mousavi, K. S., R. Primicerio & P. A. Amundsen, 2003. Diversity and structure of Chironomidae (Diptera) communities along a gradient of heavy metal contamination in a subarctic watercourse. The Science of the Total Environment 307(1–3): 93–110.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Naiman, R. J. & H. Décamps, 1997. The ecology of interfaces: riparian zones. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 28: 621–658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nebeker, A. V., M. A. Cairns, J. H. Gakstatter, K. W. Malueg, G. S. Schuytema & D. F. Krawczyk, 1984. Biological methods for determining toxicity of contaminated freshwater sediments to invertebrates. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 3(4): 617–630.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niemi, G. J. & M. E. McDonald, 2004. Application of ecological indicators. Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics 35: 89–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noss, R. F., 1990. Indicators for monitoring biodiversity: a hierarchical approach. Conservation Biology 4: 335–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petchey, O. L. & K. J. Gaston, 2002. Functional diversity (FD), species richness and community composition. Ecology Letters 5(3): 402–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petchey, O. L. & K. J. Gaston, 2006. Functional diversity: back to basics and looking forward. Ecology Letters 9(6): 741–758.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pond, G., 2010. Patterns of Ephemeroptera taxa loss in Appalachian headwater streams (Kentucky, USA). Hydrobiologia 641(1): 185–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preuss, T. G., M. Telscher & H. T. Ratte, 2008. Life stage-dependent bioconcentration of a nonylphenol isomer in Daphnia magna. Environmental Pollution 156(3): 1211–1217.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramsey, P. W., M. C. Rillig, K. P. Feris, N. S. Gordon, J. N. Moore, W. E. Holben & J. E. Gannon, 2005. Relationship between communities and processes, new insights from a field study of a contaminated ecosystem. Ecology Letters 8: 1201–1210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, J. S. & P. M. Kiffney, 2000. Responses of a macroinvertebrate community from a pristine, southern British Columbia, Canada, stream to metals in experimental mesocosms. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19(3): 736–743.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, D. M. & V. H. Resh, 1993. Freshwater Biomonitoring and Benthic Macroinvertebrates. Chapman and Hall, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubach, M. N., R. Ashauer, D. B. Buchwalter, H. J. De Lange, M. Hamer, T. G. Preuss, K. Töpke & S. J. Maund, 2011. Framework for traits-based assessment in ecotoxicology. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 7(2): 172–186.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmera, D., T. Erős & J. Podani, 2009. A measure for assessing functional diversity in ecological communities. Aquatic Ecology 43(1): 157–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snook, D. L. & A. M. Milner, 2002. Biological traits of macroinvertebrates and hydraulic conditions in a glacier-fed catchment (French Pyrenees). Archiv für Hydrobiologie 153(2): 254–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spromberg, J. A. & W. J. Birge, 2005. Modeling the effects of chronic toxicity on fish populations: the influence of life-history strategies. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 24(6): 1532–1540.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tachet, H., P. Richoux, M. Bournaud & P. Usseglio-Polatera, 2000. Invertébrés d’eau douce. Systématique, Biologie, Écologie. CNRS Editions, Paris.

  • Team, R. D. C., 2008. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. http://www.R-project.org.

  • Thioulouse, J., D. Chessel, S. Dolédec & J.-M. Olivier, 1997. ADE-4: a multivariate analysis and graphical display software. Statistics and Computing 7(1): 75–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Usseglio-Polatera, P., M. Bournaud, P. Richoux & H. Tachet, 2000. Biomonitoring through biological traits of benthic macroinvertebrates: how to use species trait databases? Hydrobiologia 422(423): 153–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Violle, C., M. L. Navas, D. Vile, E. Kazakou, C. Fortunel, I. Hummel, E. Hummel & E. Garnier, 2007. Let the concept of trait be functional! Oikos 116: 882–892.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, B. H. & J. L. Langridge, 2002. Measuring functional diversity in plant communities with mixed life forms: a problem of hard and soft attributes. Ecosystems 5(6): 529–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, B., A. Kinzig & J. Langridge, 1999. Plant attribute diversity, resilience, and ecosystem function: the nature and significance of dominant and minor species. Ecosystems 2: 95–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, J. B. & J. R. Webster, 1996. The role of macroinvertebrates in stream ecosystem function. Annual Review of Entomology 41(1): 115–139.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winner, R. W., M. W. Boesel & M. P. Farrell, 1980. Insect community structure as an index of heavy-metal pollution in lotic ecosystems. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 37(4): 647–655.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the DIESE Program of the National Research Agency—ANR PRECODD. The authors thank Wagner P., Sornom P., Georges C., Roger M.C., Burga K. and the Natural Park of Haut Jura for their assistance during the field work. The manuscript was checked for spelling by International Science Editing.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire des Interactions Ecotoxicologie, Biodiversité, Ecosystèmes (LIEBE), CNRS UMR 7146, Université de Lorraine, Campus Bridoux, Metz, France

    Colas Fanny, Férard Jean-François, Bouquerel Jonathan & Devin Simon

  2. DYNAM, IRSTEA Lyon, 3 bis quai, Chauveau, Lyon Cedex 09, 69336, France

    Archaimbault Virginie & Roger Marie-Claude

Authors
  1. Colas Fanny
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Archaimbault Virginie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Férard Jean-François
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bouquerel Jonathan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Roger Marie-Claude
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Devin Simon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Colas Fanny.

Additional information

Handling editor: B. Oertli

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fanny, C., Virginie, A., Jean-François, F. et al. Benthic indicators of sediment quality associated with run-of-river reservoirs. Hydrobiologia 703, 149–164 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1355-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1355-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation