Do metals differentiate zooplankton communities in shallow and deep lakes affected by mining tailings? The case of the Fundão dam failure (Brazil).

The effects of exposure to mining tailings on water quality and biota of tropical lacustrine ecosystems remain poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that after mining tailing spills, shallow lakes should retain higher metal concentrations in comparison with deep lakes, which might contribute to differentiating species sorting and community structure of zooplankton in both ecosystems. Surveys were performed in 6 Brazilian lakes affected by the Fundão dam failure from October 2018 to September 2019. The shallow lakes showed higher values of turbidity (19.4 ± 12.9 NTU), conductivity (846.5 ± 1727.1 µS.cm-1), total organic carbon (11.6 ± 4.6 mg.L-1), total nitrogen (2688.7 ± 2215.6 µg.L-1), iron (2507.5 ± 726.9 µg.L-1), aluminum (419.9 ± 166.5 µg.L-1) and manganese (150.8 ± 146.2 µg.L-1) and lower zooplankton richness (9.2 ± 3.2) compared to the deep lakes (13.4 ± 3.0), which showed higher cyanobacteria density (84.7 103 ± 69.3 103 cel.mL-1). We recorded negative relationships between zooplankton richness and turbidity, conductivity, iron, zinc and vanadium, indicating that as well as morphometric characteristics of lakes (area and depth) have an important role in zooplankton richness, the coupling between metals and limnological variables represent decisive environmental filters for species sorting of zooplankton. The variation-partitioning analysis showed that limnological variables and metals explained zooplankton composition, highlighting that metals play major influence on zooplankton composition. We suggest that the shallowness of the lakes should had promoted often resuspension of mining tailings that caused increases in metal concentrations in water column. The results indicate that the shallow lakes presented higher vulnerability to mining tailings exposure than the deep lakes, which may have substantially contributed for differentiating zooplankton communities in both ecosystems. This study reveals the need for considering shallow lakes as priority target for conservation among freshwater ecosystems affected by mining tailings.

Changes in the hydro-sedimentary balance: Impacts of the use of a borrow pit in a low-order stream.

Construction of dams for hydroelectric power requires significant quantities of soil and rock, which are often extracted in borrow pits from adjacent regions. Although the effects of dams on stream processes has received significant attention, the effects of borrow pits has not. The main objective of this study was to analyze the geomorphological and sedimentological aspects of two second-order streams, one of which was directly affected by the borrow pit located upstream of its source (Pedra Branca stream). Flow rates were measured and cross-sections of 600m stretches in both streams were monitored over a hydrological year. At the same time, sediments from the bed of the channels and soils on their banks had their physical and chemical characteristics evaluated. Streams sediments differed in their chemical and organic matter composition. The mean particle size of the sediment particles was different between the reference and degraded streams. The water flow was very similar to both streams, only varying along the seasonal seasons. However, the fluvial channels presented great geomorphological differentiation, mainly downstream, due to the location of the Pedra Branca stream and its proximity to the borrow pit. Despite the great importance for the production of clean electric energy, the construction of hydroelectric plants promotes persistent impacts that affect structural and functional aspects of the adjacent aquatic habitats. Borrow pits used for the construction of projects become large sources of sediment for aquatic environments, affecting the drainage network of the hydrographic basin and the balance of river erosion, transport and deposition processes. The results show the need to review the intervention protocols in borrow pits and the environmental legislation that regulates their rehabilitation.