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Effects of an azinphos-methyl runoff event on macroinvertebrates in the Wilmot River, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Lisa A. Purcell  and
Donna J. Giberson
Lisa A. Purcell*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A 4P3
Donna J. Giberson
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A 4P3
*
1 Corresponding author (e-mail: [email protected]).
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Abstract

High levels of azinphos-methyl (0.4–0.8 µg/L) were detected in the Wilmot River, Prince Edward Island, Canada, following runoff from an agricultural field after a heavy rainfall on 19 July 2002. Benthic macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity were sharply lower in samples collected 1 d after the event compared with samples collected in the same manner in July or October 2001. The greatest effects were noticed on the aquatic insects, whose abundance declined from >10 000 individuals per 3-min kick sample in July 2001 to <900 individuals per 3-min kick sample in July 2002. One family of Diptera, one family of Plecoptera, and three families of Trichoptera disappeared entirely from the study reach after the runoff event, and several other families were severely depleted in number. This led to low taxonomic similarity values between the communities before and after the runoff event and a change relative to reference streams on PEI. Examination of biological metrics (including indices such as % EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, or Trichoptera), % chironomids, % burrowers, etc.) confirmed that aquatic insects were more heavily targeted by the insecticide than non-insect invertebrates. This resulted in a shift in the community towards non-insect taxa that were better able to avoid or tolerate this type of pollution.

Résumé

De fortes teneurs d'azinphos-méthyle (0,4–0,8 µg/L) ont été détectées dans la Wilmot, Île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada, résultant du ruissellement d'un champ agricole après une forte pluie le 19 juillet 2002. L'abondance et la diversité des macroinvertébrés benthiques ont fortement diminué dans les échantillons récoltés 1 j après l'événement, par rapport à des échantillons recueillis de la même manière en juillet et en octobre 2001. Les effets les plus prononcés se sont produits chez les insectes aquatiques dont l'abondance a décliné de >10 000 individus par échantillonnage de 3 min au filet troubleau par coups de pied (« kick sample ») en juillet 2001 à <900 individus par échantillon de 3 min au filet troubleau en juillet 2002. Une famille de diptères, une de plécoptères et trois de trichoptères ont entièrement disparu de la zone d'étude après l'événement et les densités de plusieurs autres ont été considérablement réduites. Cela a eu comme conséquence de diminuer les valeurs de similarité taxonomique entre les communautés avant et après l'événement et de produire un changement de communauté par rapport aux cours d'eau témoins à l'IPE. L'analyse des métriques biologiques (en particulier des indices tels que le % d'EPT (éphéméroptères–plécoptères–trichoptères), le % de chironomidés, % de fouisseurs, etc.) confirme que les insectes aquatiques ont été plus fortement ciblés par l'insecticide que les autres invertébrés non insectes. Il en est résulté un glissement de la composition de la communauté en faveur des taxons autres que les insectes qui ont mieux réussi à éviter et à tolérer ce type de pollution.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 139 , Issue 4 , August 2007 , pp. 523 - 533
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2007

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