Integrated biotic and abiotic indicators for evaluating ecosystem health in the Qara-Su River, Iran

نوع مقاله : Special Issue: New Approaches to Water and Soil Management and Modeling

نویسندگان

1 Offshore Fisheries Research Centre, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Chabahar, Iran

2 Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

چکیده

Increasing anthropogenic pressures have intensified contamination in river ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive environmental evaluations. This study was designed to evaluate the ecological quality of the Qara-Su River in Ardabil Province, Iran, using a combination of biotic and abiotic metrics. Macroinvertebrate sampling was conducted across four stations from June 2021 to April 2022 using a Surber sampler, yielding a total of 5,092 specimens representing ten taxonomic orders. Water and sediment samples were analyzed for lead and cadmium concentrations, and macroinvertebrate communities were assessed to compute diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson, evenness, dominance) and biotic indices (HFBI, BMWP). Additional evaluations included bioconcentration (BCF), biota–sediment accumulation (BSAF), and contamination indices (Igeo, Er, RI, HPI). Correlation analysis was used to explore relationships between biotic and abiotic variables. The results revealed that the Pb and Cd content were elevated in both water and biota, particularly in Hydropsychidae, and exceeded permissible limits at downstream sites. Seasonal water-quality patterns showed higher nutrient loads and lower dissolved oxygen during warmer periods, along with consistently greater pollution at downstream stations exposed to cumulative agricultural, domestic, and aquaculture inputs. The strong correlations between abiotic and biotic indices confirmed the reliability of macroinvertebrate-based assessment. The combination of biotic and abiotic indicators revealed spatial variation in ecological health along the Qara-Su River, highlighting localized pollution risks masked by average conditions. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating multiple assessment tools to support targeted river management and mitigation strategies.

کلیدواژه‌ها

موضوعات

مراجع

Aazami, J., Esmaili-Sari,A., Abdoli, A., Sohrabi, H., & Van den Brink, P. J. (2015). Monitoring and assessment of water health quality in the Tajan River, Iran using physicochemical, fish and macroinvertebrates indices. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 13(1), 29. doi: 10.1186/s40201-0150186-y
APHA. (1999). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (20th Edition). In. American Water Works Association, and Water Environment Federation, Washington, D.C.: American Public Health Association.
Arriola, A., Al Saify, I., Warner, N. A., Herzke, D., Harju, M., Amundsen, P.-A., Evenset, A., Möckel, C., & Krogseth, I. S. (2024). Dechloranes and chlorinated paraffins in sediments and biota of two subarctic lakes [Original Research]. Frontiers in Toxicology, Volume 6 - 2024. doi: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1298231
Asadi Sharif, E., Yahyavi, B., Bayrami, A., Rahim Pouran, S., Atazadeh, E., Singh, R., & Abdul Raman, A. A. (2021). Physicochemical and biological status of Aghlagan river, Iran: effects of seasonal changes and point source pollution. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(12), 15339-15349. doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-11660-9
Bănăduc, D., Simić, V., Cianfaglione, K., Barinova, S., Afanasyev, S., Öktener, A., McCall, G., Simić, S., & Curtean-Bănăduc, A. (2022). Freshwater as a Sustainable Resource and Generator of Secondary Resources in the 21st Century: Stressors, Threats, Risks, Management and Protection Strategies, and Conservation Approaches. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(24), 16570. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/24/16570
Barbour, M. T., Gerritsen, J., Snyder, B. D., & Stribling, J. B. (1999). Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Wadeable Rivers: Periphyton, Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish (Second ed.). EPA 841-B-99-002.
Chakraborty, S. K. (2021). River Pollution and Perturbation: Perspectives and Processes. In S. K. Chakraborty (Ed.), Riverine Ecology Volume 2: Biodiversity Conservation, Conflicts and Resolution (pp. 443-530). Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-53941-2_5
Dong, J.-Y., Wang, X., Zhang, X., Bidegain, G., & Zhao, L. (2023). Integrating multiple indices based on heavy metals and macrobenthos to evaluate the benthic ecological quality status of Laoshan Bay, Shandong Peninsula, China. Ecological Indicators, 153, 110367. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110367
Evans, R. D., Balch, G. C., Evans, H. E., & Welbourn, P. M. (2006). Uptake and Elimination of Lead, Zinc, and Copper by Caddisfly Larvae (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) Using Stable Isotope Tracers. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 51(1), 35-42. doi: 10.1007/s00244-005-2080-6
FAO;, O. (2023). Environmental sustainability in agriculture. O. FAO;.
Fathi, P., Dorche, E. E., Kashkooli, O. B., Stribling, J., & Bruder, A. (2022). Development of the Karun macroinvertebrate tolerance index (KMTI) for semi-arid mountainous streams in Iran. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194. doi: 10.1007/s10661-022-09834-8
Ghanbari, N., Fataei, E., Naji, A., Imani, A., & Nasehi, F. (2022). Microplastic pollution in sediments in the urban section of the Qara Su River, Iran. Applied Water Science, 12, 192. doi: 10.1007/s13201-022-01712-5
Hahn, J., Opp, C., Evgrafova, A., Groll, M., Zitzer, N., & Laufenberg, G. (2018). Impacts of dam draining on the mobility of heavy metals and arsenic in water and basin bottom sediments of three studied dams in Germany. Science of The Total Environment, 640-641, 1072-1081. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.295
Hakanson, L. (1980). An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control.a sedimentological approach. Water Research, 14(8), 975-1001. doi: 10.1016/0043-1354(80)90143-8
Hatami, R., Mahboobi Soofiani, N., Ebrahimi, E., & Hemami, M. (2011). Evaluating the aquaculture effluent impact on macroinvertebrate community and water quality using BMWP index. Journal of Environmental Studies, 37(59), 13-15.
Herman, M. R., & Nejadhashemi, A. P. (2015). A review of macroinvertebrate- and fish-based stream health indices. Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology, 15(2), 53-67. doi: 10.1016/j.ecohyd.2015.04.001
Ibáñez, C., Caiola, N., Sharpe, P., & Trobajo, R. (2010). Ecological indicators to assess the health of river ecosystems. In S. Jørgensen, L.Xu, & R. Costanza (Eds.), Handbook of ecological indicators for assessment of ecosystem health (2nd ed.). CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/EBK1439809365
Kalantzi, I., Black, K. D., Pergantis, S. A., Shimmield, T. M., Papageorgiou, N., Sevastou, K., & Karakassis, I. (2013). Metals and other elements in tissues of wild fish from fish farms and comparison with farmed species in sites with oxic and anoxic sediments. Food Chemistry, 141(2), 680-694. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.04.049
Kowalska, D., Sosnowska, A., Zdybel, S., Stepnik, M., & Puzyn, T. (2024). Predicting bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Chemosphere, 364, 143146. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143146
Kowobari, E. D., Oladeji, T. A., Adedapo, A. M., Fagbohun, I. R., Opanike, O. O., & Akindele, E. O. (2024). Heavy metal bioaccumulation in the macroinvertebrate functional feeding guilds of an impaired stream in South-West Nigeria. Chemistry and Ecology, 40(3), 241-259. doi: 10.1080/02757540.2024.2305702
Lee, F.-Z., Lai, J.-S., & Sumi, T. (2022). Reservoir Sediment Management and Downstream River Impacts for Sustainable Water Resources—Case Study of Shihmen Reservoir. Water, 14(3), 479. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/3/479
Lim, K. Y., Zakaria, N. A., & Foo, K. Y. (2021). Geochemistry pollution status and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in the Pahang River sediment after the high magnitude of flood event. Hydrology Research, 52(1), 107–124. doi: 10.2166/nh.2020.122
Liu, S., Wu, K., Yao, L., Li, Y., Chen, R., Zhang, L., Wu, Z., & Zhou, Q. (2024). Characteristics and correlation analysis of heavy metal distribution in China's freshwater aquaculture pond sediments. Sci Total Environ, 931, 172909. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172909
Long, E. R., Dutch, M., Partridge, V., Weakland, S., & Welch, K. (2013). Revision of sediment quality triad indicators in Puget Sound (Washington, USA): I. a Sediment Chemistry Index and targets for mixtures of toxicants. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 9(1), 31-49. doi: 10.1002/ieam.1309
Mobasher, A., Bayrami, A., Asadi-Sharif, E., & Rahim Pouran, S. (2023). Ecological indicators for qualitative assessment of Ojarud River: A case study. Ecology and Evolution, 13(7), e10310. doi: 10.1002/ece3.10310
Modley, L.-A. S., Rampedi, I. T., Avenant-Oldewage, A., & Van Dyk, C. (2020). A comparative study on the biotic integrity of the rivers supplying a polluted, hyper-eutrophic freshwater system: A multi-indicator approach. Ecological Indicators, 111, 105940. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105940
Naiman, R. J., & Dudgeon, D. (2011). Global alteration of freshwaters: influences on human and environmental well-being. Ecological Research, 26(5), 865-873. doi: 10.1007/s11284-010-0693-3
Nakhaei, S., Salavati, M., & Kandelus, A. M. (2024). Contamination of toxic elements in the sediments, water, and igneous rocks of the Sefid-rud River in Northern Iran using contamination indicators, with a specific focus on Ti-rich coastal sediments. Sci Total Environ, 952, 175790. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175790
Rajan, S., & Nandimandalam, J. R. (2024). Environmental health risk assessment and source apportion of heavy metals using chemometrics and pollution indices in the upper Yamuna river basin, India. Chemosphere, 346, 140570. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140570
Schmutz, S., & Moog, O. (2018). Dams: Ecological Impacts and Management. In S. Schmutz & J. Sendzimir (Eds.), Riverine Ecosystem Management: Science for Governing Towards a Sustainable Future (pp. 111-127). Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-73250-3_6
Shanbehzadeh, S., Vahid Dastjerdi, M., Hassanzadeh, A., & Kiyanizadeh, T. (2014). Heavy metals in water and sediment: a case study of Tembi River. J Environ Public Health, 2014, 858720. doi: 10.1155/2014/858720
Shokri, M., Rossaro, B., & Rahmani, H. (2014). Response of macroinvertebrate communities to anthropogenic pressures in Tajan River (Iran). Biologia, 69(10), 13951409. doi: 10.2478/s11756-014-0448-7
Starzecka, A. (1929). A regulated river ecosystem in a polluted section of the Upper Vistula. Acta Hydrobiologica Sinica, 30, 42.
Strong, W. L. (2016). Biased richness and evenness relationships within Shannon–Wiener index values. Ecological Indicators, 67, 703-713. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.03.043
Trigal, C., García-Criado, F., & Fernández-Aláez, C. (2009). Towards a multimetric index for ecological assessment of Mediterranean flatland ponds: the use of macroinvertebrates as bioindicators. Hydrobiologia, 618, 109–123. doi: 10.1007/s10750-008-9569-8
Watson, G. J., White, S., Gobert, S., Lepoint, G., Sturaro, N., & Richir, J. (2024). Trace element contamination biomonitoring: A comparative study between the polychaetes Alitta virens and Hediste diversicolor. Environmental Pollution, 363, 125116. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125116
مدل سازی و مدیریت آب و خاک
دوره 6، Special Issue
Guest Editor: Dr. Raoof Mostafazadeh
خرداد 1405
صفحه 193-208

فایل ها

سابقه مقاله

  • تاریخ دریافت: 18 آبان 1404
  • تاریخ بازنگری: 09 آذر 1404
  • تاریخ پذیرش: 09 آذر 1404

هم رسانی

ارجاع به این مقاله

آمار