1 research outputs found
Tandem Action of Natural and Chemical Stressors in Stream Ecosystems: Insights from a Population Genetic Perspective
Agricultural and urban land use has
dramatically increased over
the last century and one consequence is the release of anthropogenic
chemicals into aquatic ecosystems. One of the rarely studied consequences
is the effect of land use change on internal concentrations of organic
micropollutants (OMPs) in aquatic invertebrates and its effects on
their genotype diversity. Here, we applied population genetic and
internal concentrations of OMPs analyses to determine evolutionary
implications of chemical pollution on <i>Gammarus pulex</i> populations from a natural and two agricultural streams. Along 14
consecutive months sampled, 26 different OMPs were quantified in <i>G. pulex</i> extracts with the highest number, concentration,
and toxic pressure in the anthropogenically stressed stream ecosystems.
Our results indicate distinct internal OMP profiles and changes in
both genetic variation and genetic structure in streams affected by
anthropogenic activity. Genetic variation was attributed to chemical
pollution whereas changes in the genetic structure were attributed
to environmental disturbances, such as changes in discharge in the
impacted stream ecosystems, which worked both independently and in
tandem. Finally, we conclude that human-impacted streams are subjected
to severe alterations in their population genetic patterns compared
to nonimpacted stream ecosystems