This study compares regional differences in benthic diatom communities exposed to similar stresses in Canada and Portugal. Diatoms were sampled in the Água Forte Stream, Aljustrel (SW Portugal) and in the Little River, New Brunswick (SE Canada), both streams surround the respective zinc mine and are subject to similar metal (e.g. Cd, Cu, Fe, Zn) and acidic (Água Forte pH = 1.9–2.9 vs. Little River pH = 2.2–5.5) stresses. In this kind of extreme environment, diatoms are frequently the main algae group in the streams, widely used as bioindicators. Diatom communities in the Água Forte Stream were dominated mostly by Pinnularia aljustrelica and Eunotia exigua (5% teratological forms), whereas communities in the Little River were more diverse (e.g. Achnanthidium minutissimum, Nitzschia palea, Eunotia sp.). Shannon-Wiener Index (H′) and percentage of taxa relative abundance were used to characterize the diversity and species composition of the diatom communities. Using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), it was found that regional variation in acceptable in-stream concentrations of metals, conductivity and pH were the primary drivers of benthic diatom community. Mine remediation to decrease metal concentrations and increase pH in streams will increase diatom diversity even in highly impacted streams such as Água Forte.
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Research Article|
May 01 2013
Benthic diatom communities in streams from zinc mining areas in continental (Canada) and Mediterranean climates (Portugal)
Ana T. Luís;
1GeoBioTec – GeoBioSciences, Geotechnologies and Geoengineering Research Center, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
2Department of Biology and GeoBioTec – GeoBioSciences, Geotechnologies and Geoengineering Research Center, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
E-mail: anatluis@ua.pt
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Alexa C. Alexander;
Alexa C. Alexander
3NSERC Visiting Fellow – Environment Canada at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
4Department of Biology at the University of New Brunswick, #10 Bailey Drive, PO Box 4400, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 5A3
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Salomé F. P. Almeida;
Salomé F. P. Almeida
2Department of Biology and GeoBioTec – GeoBioSciences, Geotechnologies and Geoengineering Research Center, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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Eduardo Ferreira da Silva;
Eduardo Ferreira da Silva
1GeoBioTec – GeoBioSciences, Geotechnologies and Geoengineering Research Center, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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Joseph M. Culp
Joseph M. Culp
4Department of Biology at the University of New Brunswick, #10 Bailey Drive, PO Box 4400, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 5A3
5Environment Canada, National Water Research Institute, Fredericton, NB, Canada
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Water Quality Research Journal (2013) 48 (2): 180–191.
Article history
Received:
August 14 2012
Accepted:
November 06 2012
Citation
Ana T. Luís, Alexa C. Alexander, Salomé F. P. Almeida, Eduardo Ferreira da Silva, Joseph M. Culp; Benthic diatom communities in streams from zinc mining areas in continental (Canada) and Mediterranean climates (Portugal). Water Quality Research Journal 1 May 2013; 48 (2): 180–191. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wqrjc.2013.043
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