Response of Chironomidae (Diptera) to DDT, Mercury, and Arsenic Legacy Pollution in Sediments of the Toce River (Northern Italy)
The Toce River (Northern Italy) is characterized by legacy contamination of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), mercury, and arsenic deriving from an industrial plant active between ca. 1915 and 1996. Chironomidae taxa assemblages and sediments were collected in 2014 and 2019 upstream and downs...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/3/148 |
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| author | Laura Marziali Niccolò Pirola Alfredo Schiavon Bruno Rossaro |
| author_facet | Laura Marziali Niccolò Pirola Alfredo Schiavon Bruno Rossaro |
| author_sort | Laura Marziali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Toce River (Northern Italy) is characterized by legacy contamination of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), mercury, and arsenic deriving from an industrial plant active between ca. 1915 and 1996. Chironomidae taxa assemblages and sediments were collected in 2014 and 2019 upstream and downstream of the industrial area to analyze species responses to toxic substances in a river stretch with relatively uniform natural (i.e., hydro-morphological) characteristics. A total of 32 chironomid taxa were identified. Sediment concentrations reached levels potentially toxic for benthic invertebrates: 15.7 µg kg<sup>−1</sup> 1% organic carbon for DDT, 197 µg kg<sup>−1</sup> dry weight (d.w.) for Hg, and 55.7 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> d.w. for As. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed a predominant seasonal gradient, followed by an upstream-downstream gradient. Partial CCA indicated that 5.2% of the total variation was associated with sediment contamination. Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs) were used to represent species responses to toxicants. Most species appeared to be tolerant, e.g., <i>Chironomus riparius</i>, <i>Micropsectra atrofasciata</i>, <i>Conchapelopia pallidula</i>, and <i>Polypedilum</i> spp. Sensitivity to contaminants was observed in only a few species: <i>Diamesa</i> spp., <i>Sympotthastia spinifera,</i> and <i>Prodiamesa olivacea</i> to DDT; <i>Potthastia longimanus</i> to Hg; <i>Odontomesa fulva</i> and <i>Microtendipes pedellus</i> to As. The chironomid community was characterized in presence of contamination levels commonly observed in freshwater ecosystems. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:10:50Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec54b54909ce45b6a1a4f92ba7e5576d2024-03-27T13:47:11ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502024-02-0115314810.3390/insects15030148Response of Chironomidae (Diptera) to DDT, Mercury, and Arsenic Legacy Pollution in Sediments of the Toce River (Northern Italy)Laura Marziali0Niccolò Pirola1Alfredo Schiavon2Bruno Rossaro3National Research Council-Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Via del Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, ItalyNational Research Council-Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Via del Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, ItalyNational Research Council-Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Via del Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DISAA), University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, MI, ItalyThe Toce River (Northern Italy) is characterized by legacy contamination of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), mercury, and arsenic deriving from an industrial plant active between ca. 1915 and 1996. Chironomidae taxa assemblages and sediments were collected in 2014 and 2019 upstream and downstream of the industrial area to analyze species responses to toxic substances in a river stretch with relatively uniform natural (i.e., hydro-morphological) characteristics. A total of 32 chironomid taxa were identified. Sediment concentrations reached levels potentially toxic for benthic invertebrates: 15.7 µg kg<sup>−1</sup> 1% organic carbon for DDT, 197 µg kg<sup>−1</sup> dry weight (d.w.) for Hg, and 55.7 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> d.w. for As. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed a predominant seasonal gradient, followed by an upstream-downstream gradient. Partial CCA indicated that 5.2% of the total variation was associated with sediment contamination. Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs) were used to represent species responses to toxicants. Most species appeared to be tolerant, e.g., <i>Chironomus riparius</i>, <i>Micropsectra atrofasciata</i>, <i>Conchapelopia pallidula</i>, and <i>Polypedilum</i> spp. Sensitivity to contaminants was observed in only a few species: <i>Diamesa</i> spp., <i>Sympotthastia spinifera,</i> and <i>Prodiamesa olivacea</i> to DDT; <i>Potthastia longimanus</i> to Hg; <i>Odontomesa fulva</i> and <i>Microtendipes pedellus</i> to As. The chironomid community was characterized in presence of contamination levels commonly observed in freshwater ecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/3/148chironomid taxa assemblagesmacroinvertebrate communitiessediment contaminationbioindicatorsmultivariate analysisSelf-Organizing Maps |
| spellingShingle | Laura Marziali Niccolò Pirola Alfredo Schiavon Bruno Rossaro Response of Chironomidae (Diptera) to DDT, Mercury, and Arsenic Legacy Pollution in Sediments of the Toce River (Northern Italy) Insects chironomid taxa assemblages macroinvertebrate communities sediment contamination bioindicators multivariate analysis Self-Organizing Maps |
| title | Response of Chironomidae (Diptera) to DDT, Mercury, and Arsenic Legacy Pollution in Sediments of the Toce River (Northern Italy) |
| title_full | Response of Chironomidae (Diptera) to DDT, Mercury, and Arsenic Legacy Pollution in Sediments of the Toce River (Northern Italy) |
| title_fullStr | Response of Chironomidae (Diptera) to DDT, Mercury, and Arsenic Legacy Pollution in Sediments of the Toce River (Northern Italy) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Response of Chironomidae (Diptera) to DDT, Mercury, and Arsenic Legacy Pollution in Sediments of the Toce River (Northern Italy) |
| title_short | Response of Chironomidae (Diptera) to DDT, Mercury, and Arsenic Legacy Pollution in Sediments of the Toce River (Northern Italy) |
| title_sort | response of chironomidae diptera to ddt mercury and arsenic legacy pollution in sediments of the toce river northern italy |
| topic | chironomid taxa assemblages macroinvertebrate communities sediment contamination bioindicators multivariate analysis Self-Organizing Maps |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/3/148 |
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