Acute toxicity of arsenic to larvae of four New Zealand freshwater insect taxa. Issue 3 (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Champeau, Olivier; Cavanagh, Jo Anne E.; Sheehan, Thomas J.; Tremblay, Louis A.; Harding, Jon S.
• Is Part Of: New Zealand journal of marine and freshwater research. Volume 51:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 443
• Page End: 454
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: Survival -- age -- size -- mayfly -- caddisfly -- stonefly -- gold mining -- acidic and circumneutral streams; Marine biology -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Freshwater biology -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Freshwater biology; Marine biology; New Zealand; Periodicals; 578.77099305
• DOI: 10.1080/00288330.2016.1264430
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1175-8805

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Arsenic, often found in gold deposits, can enter aquatic systems. The toxicity of arsenate (As(V)), the most common valence state of arsenic in freshwater, was assessed on the larvae of four freshwater insect taxa from naturally acidic (pH 5.9) and circumneutral (pH 7.4) New Zealand streams. Insects from the acidic stream were more sensitive to arsenate-spiked water than those from the circumneutral stream. Early instars (<3 mm) of the mayfly Deleatidium spp. (Leptophlebiidae) were the most sensitive compared to later instars (3–6 mm) (4-d LC50 1.5 and 3.5 mg/L, respectively) or to the stonefly Zelandobius spp. (Gripopterygidae) (4-d LC50 2.5 mg/L). The cased caddisflies Pycnocentria spp. (Conoesucidae) and Helicopsyche spp. (Helicopsychidae) from circumneutral stream were the most tolerant (4-d LC50 45.4 and 113 mg/L, respectively). The 14-day arsenic LC10 and LC50 for Deleatidium spp. late instars exposed to mining-impacted water were 0.12 and 0.36 mg/L, respectively.