Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Relationship between turbidity and the benthic community in the preserved Montebello Lakes in Chiapas, Mexico

Inari Sosa-Aranda A and Luis Zambrano https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8632-0712 A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-367, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 04510, Ciudad de México, México.

B Corresponding author. Email: zambrano@ib.unam.mx

Marine and Freshwater Research 71(7) 824-831 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF19090
Submitted: 15 March 2019  Accepted: 15 August 2019   Published: 12 November 2019

Abstract

One of the consequences of increased turbidity in lakes is the modification of the structure of the benthic macroinvertebrate community. To understand this relationship, we evaluated 13 lakes in the Montebello Lakes National Park in Chiapas. The lakes have been affected by gradual eutrophication over decades, producing variable transparency values among lakes. Macroinvertebrates were sampled from each lake in the rainy and dry seasons, and species richness and abundance were calculated and related to Secchi disc transparency. Cluster analysis showed that community composition was similar in pristine and semitransparent lakes, in contrast with turbid lakes. Considering macroinvertebrate groups, hyalellids were dominant in pristine and semiturbid lakes, whereas chironomids were dominant in turbid lakes. A significant quadratic relationship between richness and Secchi disc depth values was found, which is consistent with the intermediate production hypothesis. This study shows how a gradual change in Secchi disc depth can markedly modify benthic communities.


References

Alcocer, J., Oseguera, L. A., Sánchez, G., González, C. G., Martínez, J. R., and González, R. (2016). Bathymetric and morphometric surveys of the Montebello Lakes, Chiapas. Journal of Limnology 75, 56–65.
Bathymetric and morphometric surveys of the Montebello Lakes, Chiapas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Alonso, A., and Camargo, J. A. (2005). Estado actual y perspectivas en el empleo de la comunidad de macroinvertebrados bentónicos como indicadora del estado ecológico de los ecosistemas fluviales españoles. Ecosistemas 14, 87–99.

Arimoro, F. O., Ikomi, R. B., and Iwegbue, C. (2007). Water quality changes in relation to Diptera community patterns and diversity measured at an organic effluent impacted stream in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Ecological Indicators 7, 541–552.
Water quality changes in relation to Diptera community patterns and diversity measured at an organic effluent impacted stream in the Niger Delta, Nigeria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Barbour, M. T., Gerristen, J., Griffith, G. E., Frydenborg, R., McCarron, E., White, J. S., and Bastian, M. L. (1996). A framework for biological criteria for Florida streams using benthic macroinvertebrates. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 15, 185–211.
A framework for biological criteria for Florida streams using benthic macroinvertebrates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Battle, J., and Golladay, S. W. (2001). Water quality and macroinvertebrate assemblages in three types of seasonally inundated limesink wetlands in southwest Georgia. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 16, 189–207.
Water quality and macroinvertebrate assemblages in three types of seasonally inundated limesink wetlands in southwest Georgia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brown, C. D., Canfield, D. E., Bachmann, R. W., and Hoyer, M. V. (1998). Seasonal patterns of chlorophyll, nutrient concentrations and Secchi disk transparency in Florida lakes. Lake and Reservoir Management 14, 60–76.
Seasonal patterns of chlorophyll, nutrient concentrations and Secchi disk transparency in Florida lakes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Burch, J., and Cruz-Reyes, A. (1987). ‘Clave genérica para la identificación de gastropodos de agua dulce en México.’ (Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México: Mexico City, México.)

Carlson, R. E., and Simpson, J. (1996). ‘A Coordinator’s Guide to Volunteer Lake Monitoring Methods.’ (North American Lake Management Society: Madison, WI, USA.)

Clarke, K. R., Somerfield, P. J., and Chapman, M. G. (2006). On resemblance measures for ecological studies, including taxonomic dissimilarities and a zero-adjusted Bray-Curtis coefficient for denuded assemblages. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 330, 55–80.
On resemblance measures for ecological studies, including taxonomic dissimilarities and a zero-adjusted Bray-Curtis coefficient for denuded assemblages.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Colwell, R. K., Mao, C. X., and Chang, J. (2005). Interpolando, extrapolando y comparando las curvas de acumulación de especies basadas en su incidencia. In ‘Sobre diversidad biológica: el significado de las diversidades alfa, beta y gamma’. (Eds G. Halffter, J. Soberón, P. Koleff, and A. Melic.) pp. 73–84. (Monografias Tercer Milenio: Zaragoza, Spain.)

Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (2011). ‘Programa de monitoreo de calidad del agua: estudio para monitorear los parámetros de calidad de agua de las lagunas comunicadas con el sistema lagunar Tepancoapan.’ (CONANP: Comitán de Domínguez, México.)

Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas and Consultorías Integrales para el Desarrollo Rural Sustentable (2009). ‘Programa de monitoreo: estudio para el monitoreo de calidad del agua de las lagunas en el Parque Nacional Lagunas de Montebello.’ (CONANP: Mexico City, México.)

Cummins, K. W., and Klug, M. J. (1979). Feeding ecology of stream invertebrates. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 10, 147–172.
Feeding ecology of stream invertebrates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Currie, D. J. (1991). Energy and large-scale patterns of animal-and plant-species richness. American Naturalist 137, 27–49.
Energy and large-scale patterns of animal-and plant-species richness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Doña, C., Caselles, V., Sánchez, J. M., Ferri, A., and Camacho, A. (2011). Herramienta para el estudio del estado de eutrofización de masas de agua continentales. Revista de Teledetección 36, 40–50.

France, R. L. (1992). Biogeographical variation in size-specific fecundity of the amphipod Hyalella azteca. Crustaceana 62, 240–248.
Biogeographical variation in size-specific fecundity of the amphipod Hyalella azteca.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

González, S. M., Ramírez, Y. P., Meza, A. M., and Dias, L. G. (2012). Diversidad de macroinvertebrados acuáticos y calidad de agua de quebradas abastecedoras del municipio de Manizales. Boletín Científico del Museo de Historia Natural 16, 135–148.

González, T., Santillán-Espinoza, L. E., and López-Caloca, A. (2013). Detection of temporal changes using remote sensing data in the lacustrine area of Montebello, Chiapas, Southeastern Mexico. In ‘AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts’. Abstract NS21A-01. (American Geophysical Union.)

Haggag, A. A., Mahmoud, M. A., Bream, A. S., and Am, M. S. (2018). Family variation of aquatic insects and water properties to assess freshwater quality in El-Mansouriya stream, Egypt. African Entomology 26, 162–173.
Family variation of aquatic insects and water properties to assess freshwater quality in El-Mansouriya stream, Egypt.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hammer, Ø., Harper, D. A. T., and Ryan, P. D. (2001). PAST: paleontological statistics software package for education and data analysis. Palaeontologia Electronica 4, 9–17.

Hilsenhoff, W. L. (1988). Rapid field assessment of organic pollution with a family-level biotic index. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 7, 65–68.
Rapid field assessment of organic pollution with a family-level biotic index.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Huston, M. (1979). A general hypothesis of species diversity. American Naturalist 113, 81–101.
A general hypothesis of species diversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kassen, R., Buckling, A., Bell, G., and Rainey, P. B. (2000). Diversity peaks at intermediate productivity in a laboratory microcosm. Nature 406, 508–512.
Diversity peaks at intermediate productivity in a laboratory microcosm.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 10952310PubMed |

Kondoh, M. (2001). Unifying the relationships of species richness to productivity and disturbance. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London – B. Biological Sciences 268, 269–271.
Unifying the relationships of species richness to productivity and disturbance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lambou, V. W., Hern, S. C., Taylor, W. D., and Williams, L. R. (1982). Chlorophyll, phosphorus, Secchi disk, and trophic state. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 18, 807–813.
Chlorophyll, phosphorus, Secchi disk, and trophic state.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Little, C. J., and Altermatt, F. (2018). Do priority effects outweigh environmental filtering in a guild of dominant freshwater macroinvertebrates? Proceedings. Biological Sciences 285, 20180205.
Do priority effects outweigh environmental filtering in a guild of dominant freshwater macroinvertebrates?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29643215PubMed |

Marshall, J. C., Steward, A. L., and Harch, B. D. (2006). Taxonomic resolution and quantification of freshwater macroinvertebrate samples from an Australian dryland river: the benefits and costs of using species abundance data. Hydrobiologia 572, 171–194.
Taxonomic resolution and quantification of freshwater macroinvertebrate samples from an Australian dryland river: the benefits and costs of using species abundance data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Melo, G., and Cervantes, B. (1986). Propuestas para el programa integral de manejo y desarrollo del Parque Nacional Lagunas de Montebello. Investigaciones Geográficas 16, 9–31.

Merritt, R., and Cummins, K. (1996). ‘An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America’, 3rd edn. (Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co.: Dubuque, IA, USA.)

Miserendino, M. L., Brand, C., and Di Prinzio, C. Y. (2008). Assessing urban impacts on water quality, benthic communities and fish in streams of the Andes Mountains, Patagonia (Argentina). Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 194, 91–110.
Assessing urban impacts on water quality, benthic communities and fish in streams of the Andes Mountains, Patagonia (Argentina).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Olea-Olea, S., and Escolero, O. (2018). Nutrients load estimation to a lake system through the local groundwater flow: Los Lagos de Montebello, México. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 84, 201–207.
Nutrients load estimation to a lake system through the local groundwater flow: Los Lagos de Montebello, México.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Parsons, B. G., Watmough, S. A., Dillon, P. J., and Somers, K. M. (2010). A bioassessment of lakes in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, using benthic macroinvertebrates. Journal of Limnology 69, 105–117.
A bioassessment of lakes in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, using benthic macroinvertebrates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Persson, L., Diehl, S., Johansson, L., Andersson, G., and Hamrin, S. F. (1991). Shifts in fish communities along the productivity gradient of temperate lakes – patterns and the importance of size-structured interactions. Journal of Fish Biology 38, 281–293.
Shifts in fish communities along the productivity gradient of temperate lakes – patterns and the importance of size-structured interactions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ramírez Marcial, N., González Espinosa, M., Martínez Icó, M., and Luna Gómez, A. (2007). ‘Restauración forestal en el Parque Nacional Lagunas de Montebello, Chiapas, México.’ Red Mexicana para la Restauración Ambienta, San Cristóbal de las Casas, México.

Ramsar (2003). ‘Ficha Informativa de los Humedales de Ramsar Parque Nacional Lagunas de Montebello.’ (Compiladora González del Castillo E. C. México: Mexico City)

Rios-Touma, B., Acosta, R., and Prat, N. (2014). The Andean biotic index (ABI): revised tolerance to pollution values for macroinvertebrate families and index performance evaluation. Revista de Biología Tropical 62, 249–273.
The Andean biotic index (ABI): revised tolerance to pollution values for macroinvertebrate families and index performance evaluation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25189082PubMed |

Rosenzweig, M. L., and Abramsky, Z. (1993). How are diversity and productivity related? In ‘Species Diversity in Ecological Communities’. (Eds R. E. Ricklefs and D. Schluter.) pp. 52–65. (University of Chicago Press: Chicago, IL, USA.)

Scheffer, M., Carpenter, S., Foley, J. A., Folke, C., and Walker, B. (2001). Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems. Nature 413, 591–596.
Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11595939PubMed |

Smith, V. H., Tilman, G. D., and Nekola, J. C. (1999). Eutrophication: impacts of excess nutrient inputs on freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems. Environmental Pollution 100, 179–196.
Eutrophication: impacts of excess nutrient inputs on freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15093117PubMed |

Spieles, D. J., and Mitsch, W. J. (2000). Macroinvertebrate community structure in high- and low-nutrient constructed wetlands. Wetlands 20, 716–729.
Macroinvertebrate community structure in high- and low-nutrient constructed wetlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Suikkanen, S., Pulina, S., Engström-Öst, J., Lehtiniemi, M., Lehtinen, S., and Brutemark, A. (2013). Climate change and eutrophication induced shifts in northern summer plankton communities. PLoS One 8, e66475.
Climate change and eutrophication induced shifts in northern summer plankton communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23776676PubMed |

Svensson, O., Bellamy, A. S., Van den Brink, P. J., Tedengren, M., and Gunnarsson, J. S. (2018). Assessing the ecological impact of banana farms on water quality using aquatic macroinvertebrate community composition. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International 25, 13373–13381.
Assessing the ecological impact of banana farms on water quality using aquatic macroinvertebrate community composition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28116625PubMed |

Vian, C. V., Harun, S., Hee, K. B., Hui, A. W. B., and Fikri, A. H. (2018). Aquatic insects and water quality study at Kimanis River, Crocker Range National Park, Sabah, Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Biology & Conservation 15, 223–245.

Voelz, N. J., and McArthur, J. V. (2000). An exploration of factors influencing lotic insect species richness. Biodiversity and Conservation 9, 1543–1570.
An exploration of factors influencing lotic insect species richness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zhang, M., Muñoz-Mas, R., Martínez-Capel, F., Qu, X., Zhang, H., Peng, W., and Liu, X. (2018). Determining the macroinvertebrate community indicators and relevant environmental predictors of the Hun-Tai River Basin (northeast China): a study based on community patterning. The Science of the Total Environment 634, 749–759.
Determining the macroinvertebrate community indicators and relevant environmental predictors of the Hun-Tai River Basin (northeast China): a study based on community patterning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29649719PubMed |