Studies conducted in subalpine streams in Colorado by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists found that aqueous metals resulting from acid mine drainage and natural weathering can almost eliminate adult insect emergence from streams, even at metal levels too low to reduce aquatic larval densities. This pattern suggests that adult insects might be a more sensitive indicator of metals than juvenile (larval) insects and that adults are not as protected from aquatic contaminants as currently thought. Results of the studies were published in the journals Ecological Applications, and Environmental Science and Technology.
Most aquatic insects live in freshwater as larvae but move to land as flying adults to complete their life cycle. These adults are a major source of food to terrestrial food webs. When aquatic contaminants kill insects before they become adults, predators such as spiders, birds, and bats lose a rich food source. On the other hand, if contaminants accumulate in larvae and persist in adult bodies, terrestrial predators are exposed to elevated contaminant concentrations.
A systematic analysis of literature reviewed for these studies indicated that insect metamorphosis from larva to adult has strong effects on contaminants in insect bodies. For example, some metals are almost completely eliminated from insect bodies during metamorphosis while concentrations of certain organic contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), increase. Because the uptake of contaminants in insect bodies varies, predator exposures to contaminants vary, depending on whether larvae or adult insects are eaten.
These findings inform regulators and resource managers about the broader impacts of aquatic contaminants on resource availability for terrestrial consumers. Furthermore, understanding changes in insect chemistry related to metamorphosis will help predict and potentially mitigate the cascading effects of contaminants across perceived ecosystem boundaries and will improve risk management of contaminated sites.
This research was funded by the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area’s Environmental Health Program (Contaminant Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology), the USGS Mendenhall Research Fellowship, abd Mineral Resources Programs; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Below are publications associated with this featured science activity.
Metamorphosis alters contaminants and chemical tracers in insects: implications for food webs
Metamorphosis enhances the effects of metal exposure on the mayfly, Centroptilum triangulifer
Emergence flux declines disproportionately to larval density along a stream metals gradient
- Overview
Studies conducted in subalpine streams in Colorado by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists found that aqueous metals resulting from acid mine drainage and natural weathering can almost eliminate adult insect emergence from streams, even at metal levels too low to reduce aquatic larval densities. This pattern suggests that adult insects might be a more sensitive indicator of metals than juvenile (larval) insects and that adults are not as protected from aquatic contaminants as currently thought. Results of the studies were published in the journals Ecological Applications, and Environmental Science and Technology.
Two streams (North Fork of South Platte and Handcart Gulch) spanning the gradient of aqueous metal from natural weathering and hard-rock mining in the Colorado Mineral Belt. Floating traps capture emerging adult aquatic insects. Photo Credit: Johanna Kraus, USGS. Most aquatic insects live in freshwater as larvae but move to land as flying adults to complete their life cycle. These adults are a major source of food to terrestrial food webs. When aquatic contaminants kill insects before they become adults, predators such as spiders, birds, and bats lose a rich food source. On the other hand, if contaminants accumulate in larvae and persist in adult bodies, terrestrial predators are exposed to elevated contaminant concentrations.
A systematic analysis of literature reviewed for these studies indicated that insect metamorphosis from larva to adult has strong effects on contaminants in insect bodies. For example, some metals are almost completely eliminated from insect bodies during metamorphosis while concentrations of certain organic contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), increase. Because the uptake of contaminants in insect bodies varies, predator exposures to contaminants vary, depending on whether larvae or adult insects are eaten.
These findings inform regulators and resource managers about the broader impacts of aquatic contaminants on resource availability for terrestrial consumers. Furthermore, understanding changes in insect chemistry related to metamorphosis will help predict and potentially mitigate the cascading effects of contaminants across perceived ecosystem boundaries and will improve risk management of contaminated sites.
This research was funded by the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area’s Environmental Health Program (Contaminant Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology), the USGS Mendenhall Research Fellowship, abd Mineral Resources Programs; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this featured science activity.
Metamorphosis alters contaminants and chemical tracers in insects: implications for food webs
Insects are integral to most freshwater and terrestrial food webs, but due to their accumulation of environmental pollutants they are also contaminant vectors that threaten reproduction, development, and survival of consumers. Metamorphosis from larvae to adult can cause large chemical changes in insects, altering contaminant concentrations and fractionation of chemical tracers used to establish cAuthorsJohanna M. Kraus, David M. Walters, Jeff S. Wesner, Craig A. Stricker, Travis S. Schmidt, Robert E. ZuelligMetamorphosis enhances the effects of metal exposure on the mayfly, Centroptilum triangulifer
The response of larval aquatic insects to stressors such as metals is used to assess the ecological condition of streams worldwide. However, nearly all larval insects metamorphose from aquatic larvae to winged adults, and recent surveys indicate that adults may be a more sensitive indicator of stream metal toxicity than larvae. One hypothesis to explain this pattern is that insects exposed to elevAuthorsJeff S. Wesner, Johanna M. Kraus, Travis S. Schmidt, David M. Walters, William H. ClementsEmergence flux declines disproportionately to larval density along a stream metals gradient
Effects of contaminants on adult aquatic insect emergence are less well understood than effects on insect larvae. We compared responses of larval density and adult emergence along a metal contamination gradient. Nonlinear threshold responses were generally observed for larvae and emergers. Larval densities decreased significantly at low metal concentrations but precipitously at concentrations of mAuthorsTravis S. Schmidt, Johanna M. Kraus, David M. Walters, Richard B. Wanty