The influence of elevation on benthic community responses to heavy metals in Rocky Mountain streams

Abstract

We examined the influence of elevation on benthic macroinvertebrate community responses to heavy metals at 33 sites in six Colorado streams where zinc (Zn) concentration ranged from 2 to 691 μg/L and elevation ranged from 2200 to 3500 m above sea level. We assigned the 33 sites to one of four categories, on the basis of the total Zn concentration and the hardness-based criterion for Zn. Number of taxa, abundance, and species richness of mayflies (Ephemeroptera), and abundance of most mayfly and stonefly (Plecoptera) taxa were significantly reduced at sites where Zn concentration exceeded the hardness-based criterion. Although most measures of benthic community structure were not affected at sites where the Zn concentration was less than the criterion, the species richness of mayflies and the abundance of Heptageniidae, Drunella, and Rhyacophila were significantly reduced. Results of stepwise multiple regression analysis and canonical discriminant analysis showed that the effects of Zn on benthic community structure were influenced by elevation. These natural changes in benthic communities confound results of biomonitoring studies and must be considered when assessing heavy metal impacts. Total abundance and species richness of mayflies, and abundance of Heptageniidae were the most reliable indicators of heavy metal impacts in our southern Rocky Mountain streams.