The effect of arsenic on the structure and composition of stream hyphomycetes assemblages.

Aquatic hyphomycetes are fungi with a fundamental ecological role in forested streams. These organisms are responsible for cycling of nutrients in aquatic environments. However, their structure and composition can be affected when exposed to certain pollutants. Arsenic (As) is a trace element with high toxicity for the aquatic biota. Here we evaluated the effects of different concentrations of Arsenite (AsIII) and Arsenate (AsV) on aquatic hyphomycetes assemblages. To test As toxicity, we conditioned Nectandra megapotamica leaves in a stream and after this period, we incubated leaf discs with stream water and different concentrations of AsIII and AsV. Species richness was negatively affected by both As form. Likewise, the hyphomycetes assemblages presented variation in the composition of species. However, the sporulation rates were not influenced by As. The As showed toxicity on species of hyphomycetes more sensitive, remaining only in species tolerant to its toxicity. In this way, As generated a change in the aquatic hyphomycetes composition. We observed that As had a negative effect on the aquatic hyphomycetes assemblages, regardless of the chemical form. Our results point to the toxicity of this element and its effects on a group that is fundamental to the streams ecosystems functioning.

Effects of land use and limnology variables on the dissimilarity of common and rare aquatic insects in Atlantic Forest streams / Efectos del uso del suelo y limnología sobre la disimilitud de los insectos acuáticos comunes y escasos en arroyos del bosque atlántico

Abstract Lotic ecosystems are altered at various spatial scales leading to the simplification of water bodies and the dominance or exclusion of certain organisms. In streams, species may have limitations generated by the environment that result in a more abundant or rare occurrence. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of water physical-chemical variables and land use in the drainage basin on the composition of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) assemblages in the streams of Atlantic Forest. We collected water samples and aquatic insects from 18 streams in Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. We evaluated the relationship between physical-chemical variables of water and land use and the dissimilarity of EPT assemblages in three different situations: (i) matrix with all organisms collected, (ii) matrix containing only common genera and (iii) matrix containing only the rare genera. We collected 6 023 EPT larvae from 41 genera; 62 % of the individuals belonged to the order Trichoptera, 32 % to the order Ephemeroptera and 6 % to the order Plecoptera. The most common organisms (10 genera) accounted for 86 % of the total abundance of identified individuals. On the other hand, rare genera corresponded to 76 % of the total richness, but only 6 % of the total abundance. For the three matrices studied, the pH, electrical conductivity and riparian vegetation were correlated with the dissimilarity matrix of the three biological datasets used. In our study, we observed that the pH, electric conductivity, exposed soil and riparian vegetation variables were the most important for the dissimilarity of the EPT assemblages. In addition, our results demonstrated that variables at different scales (stream and riparian zone) structure stream insect assemblages. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(3): 1223-1231. Epub 2018 September 01.

Resumen Los ecosistemas lóticos se alteran a diversas escalas espaciales que conducen a la simplificación de los cuerpos de agua y a la dominancia o exclusión de ciertos organismos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la influencia de las variables físico-químicas del agua y el uso del suelo en la porción alta de la cuenca del Río Uruguay sobre la composición de los órdenes Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera y Trichoptera (EPT), en los arroyos del bosque atlántico. Se recogieron muestras de agua e insectos acuáticos de 18 arroyos en el bosque atlántico del sur de Brasil. Se evaluó la relación entre las variables físico-químicas del agua y uso del suelo así como la disimilitud de las agrupaciones de EPT en tres situaciones diferentes: (i) matriz con todos los organismos, (ii) matriz que contiene solo géneros comunes y (iii) géneros raros. Se recolectaron 6 023 larvas EPT de 41 géneros; 62 % de los individuos pertenecían al orden Trichoptera, 32 % a Ephemeroptera y 6 % Plecoptera. Los organismos más comunes (10 géneros) representaron el 86 % de la abundancia total de individuos identificados. Por otro lado, la riqueza de géneros raros correspondía al 76 % de la riqueza total, pero sólo al 6 % de la abundancia total. Para las tres matrices estudiadas, el pH, la conductividad eléctrica y la vegetación ribereña se correlacionaron con la matriz de disimilitud de los tres conjuntos de datos biológicos utilizados. En nuestro caso observamos que las variables de pH, conductividad eléctrica, suelo expuesto y vegetación de ribera fueron las más importantes por la disimilitud de los ensamblajes de EPT. Además, nuestros resultados demostraron que las variables a diferente escala (arroyo y zona ribereña) pueden estructurar insectos acuáticos en los arroyos.

Incorporation of zinc and copper by insects of different functional feeding groups in agricultural streams.

Metals from agricultural areas are responsible for soil contamination and are carried into aquatic ecosystems. In this context, we evaluated the incorporation of zinc and copper via three feeding strategies (shredding, herbivory and predators) in assemblages of stream insects. We collected aquatic insects in five agricultural streams and five natural streams in Atlantic forest biome to investigate the accumulation of copper and zinc in insects with different feeding strategies. We found no significant differences in the concentrations of copper and zinc between stream types among all insect-feeding groups compared. However, we observed that copper accumulate concentrations differed significantly among the shredders and predators in relation to their resource in streams, while zinc concentrations differed in the two feeding strategy. Therefore, the investigation of the transfer of copper and zinc by different feeding strategies in streams can contribute to the understanding of changes in aquatic insect assemblages related to agricultural activities around streams.

Plant litter dynamics in the forest-stream interface: precipitation is a major control across tropical biomes.

Riparian plant litter is a major energy source for forested streams across the world and its decomposition has repercussions on nutrient cycling, food webs and ecosystem functioning. However, we know little about plant litter dynamics in tropical streams, even though the tropics occupy 40% of the Earth's land surface. Here we investigated spatial and temporal (along a year cycle) patterns of litter inputs and storage in multiple streams of three tropical biomes in Brazil (Atlantic forest, Amazon forest and Cerrado savanna), predicting major differences among biomes in relation to temperature and precipitation regimes. Precipitation explained most of litter inputs and storage, which were generally higher in more humid biomes (litterfall: 384, 422 and 308 g m-2 y-1, storage: 55, 113 and 38 g m-2, on average in Atlantic forest, Amazon and Cerrado, respectively). Temporal dynamics varied across biomes in relation to precipitation and temperature, with uniform litter inputs but seasonal storage in Atlantic forest streams, seasonal inputs in Amazon and Cerrado streams, and aseasonal storage in Amazon streams. Our findings suggest that litter dynamics vary greatly within the tropics, but point to the major role of precipitation, which contrasts with the main influence of temperature in temperate areas.