Abstract
During 2014 (May-September), the genus Laccobius spp. (Coleoptera:
Hydrophilidae), water and sediment samples from the same location were
collected and heavy element content of these samples were evaluated at
six sampling sites of Erzurum (Turkey).Heavy element concentrations were
measured by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy.
Fourteen elements were detected at measurable levels in all the samples.
Laccobius spp. was evaluated for the first time as a biomonitor of heavy metal
pollution. The results indicated that Laccobius spp. were contaminated by water
and sediment from their habitat, and accumulated higher concentration of
elements than water and sediment, revealed their role as bioindicators of heavy
element pollution. Heavy element concentration levels of the water samples
were compared with national water quality guidelines. Some heavy elements’
concentration was found at high level than the acceptable limits. The mean
concentration of studied elements in the study region increased in the following
order: in sediment samples was Zn
Keywords: Biomonitor; EDXRF; Heavy element; Laccobius spp; Turkey
Introduction
Heavy element pollution is a byproduct of industrialization, urbanization and intensive usage of different chemicals in human routine activity results in damage to the food chain [1,2]. Therefore, an early detection of heavy element concentrations in ecosystem is vital for nature conservation. Heavy element residues at the poles was widespread during recent years [3].
The use of biota for monitoring quality of environment originated mainly in Europe early in this century and it has been widely used [4,5]. Bioaccumulation of elements from air, soil, water and sediment is currently evaluated with reference to some biological communities such as plankton [6], periphyton [7], fish [8], lichens, mosses [9], algae [10], plant [11], insects [12,13]. To assess and monitor the environment, bioindicators are more useful, because chemical and physical measurements provide information only on conditions when the samples were taken, whereas biologic surveillance reflects long time period conditions [14]. Bioaccumulation process defined as when chemical pollutant enters into the body of an organism, it accumulates in the organism’s tissues due to non-degradable feature of chemicals [15]. Many researchers reported that benthic invertebrates are most useful in monitoring aquatic ecosystems [4,12,13]. Aquatic insects have been widely used as biomonitor systems, because they can accumulate these contaminants in measurable amounts. Even though for a long time passed over, they can reflect element concentrations [15].
Hydrophilidae also called water scavenger beetles are large family and distributed worldwide. These species can live in a wide variety of habitats and are commonly found in temporary or permanent puddles, ditches, margin of shallow lakes and ponds. Many aquatic species of Hydrophilidae, both adults and larvae are abundant in some certain habitats. The larvae are predatory or carnivorous and not scavenging, generally feeding on dipteran larvae, small crustaceans and other hydrophilid larvae. Whereas, adults are scavengers and vegetarians, usually inhabit in richly vegetated water bodies, and generally feed on dead or decaying plants also living plants, especially on algae. They are important in aquatic food chain, since fish, aquatic and birds depend on these insects [16,17]. In this study heavy element content of water, sediment, Laccobius spp. and distribution of Laccobius Erichson 1837 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) was studied. Laccobius Erichson 1837 is one of the most diverse genus of Hydrophilidae and 257 species are known worldwide [18]. Laccobius spp. were evaluated previously by [19] and last status (abundance or absence) of this genus were evaluated with this study. This genus has greater swimming ability and occurs in swiftly flowing streams. They can be easily distinguished from remaining hydrophilid genera by the combination of abdomen with 6 ventrites, curved posterior tibiae, and short maxillary palpi [20]. These insects are actively moving on the water surface and are tolerant to pollution [21]. Many researchers have reported that, sediment serves as an archive to environmental pollution, because they are open access to the disposal of industrial, agricultural and domestic wastewater [22,23]. Sediment function as a reservoir for industrial contaminants and its quality is a good indicator of environmental pollution. For this purpose sediment, water samples and insects were collected from selected localities of Erzurum. Because of the Aras, Çoruh and Euphrates basins originate in Erzurum province, monitoring these aquatic environments based on abiotic and biotic samples is important for conservation of Erzurum’s wetlands. The study was aimed to assess the effect of pollution on water, sediment of fresh water bodies and to prove Laccobius spp. as a potential bioindicator of heavy element pollution.
Materials and Methods
Erzurum is a city in eastern Anatolia of Turkey and very rich in terms of water resources. In this study, six different sampling sites were selected. Information about these stations was given below (Figure 1).
Station 1: This station is located between 39°55’19 North 40°40’01 East coordinates and west of the cement plant. Altitude is 1636m. Sampling was done on the edge of Karasu River. Contamination sources are Erzurum-Trabzon highway traffic pollution and cement plantash emissions.
Station 2: It is located between 39°55’39 North 40°40’41 East coordinates east of the cement plant. Altitude is1669m. Source of pollution is less intense traffic and ash emissions from cement plant. Aquatic habitat was small brook.
Station 3: This station is located Askale-Trabzon road, between 39°55’41North 40°38’44 East coordinates. Altitude is 1636m. Stream source of pollution is traffic.
Station 4: This station is located Erzurum-Ilica road, between 39°59’11 North 41°09’21 East coordinates. Altitude is 1753m. Stream source of pollution is effluents from sugar factory and traffic.
Station 5: This station is located between 40°05’34 North 41°22’37 East coordinates, 28 km away to Erzurum center. Altitude is 1819m. Due to extensive farming and livestock management the effluent to water bodies is livestock, agricultural and domestic wastes.
Station 6: This station is located Erzurum–Çat road, between 39°48’49 North 41°09’45 East coordinates. Teke Stream altitude is 1981m. There is no traffic and also settlements around it. Therefore it is intended as clean sampling point.
Sample collections were done from six different locations in Erzurum, between May–September 2014. As described in [24] insects were collected via1 mm mesh aperture sieve and mouth aspirator then stored in 70% alcohol and station information labeled in the field. In the laboratory, before identification, insects humidified 1–2 hours in petri dishthen grass and sand on the insects were cleaned via paint brush. Male genitalia were dissected under stereo microscope for identification. Identification was made by first author and certificated by second author with the aid of Hansen [20]. Five species belonging to genus Laccobius Erichson 1837 (Hydrophilidae: Coleoptera) were determined. The following species were recorded: Laccobius (Dimorpho laccobius) syriacus Guillebeau 1896, Laccobius (D.) simulatrix D’orchymont 1932, Laccobius (D.) bipunctatus (Fabricius 1775), Laccobius (D.) sculptus D’orchymont 1935, and Laccobius (D.) sulcatulus Reitter 1909.Insect samples were collected only in summer months due to marginal ice condition of other months. Benthic zone sediment was taken via plastic shovel, put into a glass bottle in 30 cm depth. Water glass bottles washed 4–5 times with the study area water then filled with water. Then, the samples were kept in the refrigerator until analysis.
The data were subjected to the Mean ± SD variances using SPSS statistical package programs version 10.0 to perform the analysis. Elemental analyses were made by using EDXRF. Insect and sediment samples were dried in an oven at 80°C during 36 hour. Dried insects were pulverized in mortar and cellulose was added. Cellulose helps to form a shape. Proportion of cellulose changes according to the insect size. Insect size and proportion of cellulose do not affect the measurement of EDXRF. Pulverized insect poured into a DIE set, which has 13 mm diameter, then put in a press machine and then applied five tons pressure. For emit photons, an Al sample holder with Mylar films on both sides were used for water and sediment samples. Samples were irradiated by 59.5 keV photons, emitted by 1 Ci241Am radioactive source. X–ray spectra were collected with HPGe detector which use Genie–2000 software (Canberra) program. HPGe detector resolution is ~180 eV. The irradiation time was 14.400 s for water and sediment, 43.200 s for insect samples. Source/Sample distance was 35.5 mm.To eliminate elements on air, all measurements were carried out under vacuum. The spectral data were stored on disks, and the concentration of elements in each samples were determined by Win AXIL software (Canberra) and WinFund software package (Canberra), which use the Fundamental Parameters Method (FPM) for quantitative analysis. Possible error sources for some uncertainties due to EDXRF (maximum ~5%) are listed in (Table 1).
Results
Results only five species belonging to genus Laccobius were determined. In
total, 236 specimens from six stations in Erzurum were collected and
analyzed for contaminants. The concentrations of these elements
were found to vary in all samples. The results showed that element
concentration in the Laccobius spp. showed differences in accordance
to the sediment and water contamination of the each station.
Concentrations of Ti, Ni and Pb were measured in all stations’
water, sediment and insects samples. The most abundant specie was
Laccobius simulatrix, followed by Laccobius syriacus 48.3% and 26.6%
respectively. On the other hand Laccobius sculptushadless population
(0.84%). Ti, Cr, Fe, Br and Pb were measured in all insects. Heavy
element concentration in water samples indicated that in water of
stations 3 had the highest level of Ti, and in water of Station 6 had
the highest level of Pb, Sr. In all other studied water samples had Cr,
Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu concentration. The rest of the heavy elements in water
samples, that is V, Co, Zn, As, Se and Br had lowest concentration.
Except insects, Station 3 sediment heavy element contents indicated
that V had the highest concentration among the fourteen elements;
in Station 1 and 2 sediments, Cr had the highest level; in Stations 2,
3 and 5 sediments, Mn had the highest level; in Station 2, 3, 4 and 5 sediments, Fe had the highest level; in sediment of Station 6 Sr level was
the highest. Co measured only in Station 2sediment.Zn and Br had the
nearly same level in all sediments. The rest of the heavy elements had
the lowest level. According to the results in insects, L. bipunctatus is
the best accumulator for some certain elements, L. sulcatulus followed
it.Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br and Pb were measured in L. bipunctatus in
highest level. Also L. sulcatulus is the best accumulator in regard
to Mn, Fe, Co and Se. The highest level of V and Sr were measured
inL. simulatrix and L. syriacus. The highest level of Ti was measured
inL. syriacus. Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, As, Br and Pb were only measured in
L. sculptus, but the levels of these elements were not considerable.
As it seen in Table 2, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Sr and Pb were
the most abundant elements in the Laccobius spp. In the station 1,
L. syriacus and L. simulatrix have high contamination of titanium,
vanadium, chromium, and the same happens in water. In the station
2 was the most diverse, have the five insect species collected, among
the stations; L. syriacus, L. simulatrix and L. sulcatulus have less metal
contamination of titanium, vanadium, strontium, although except Sr
the water were high; others like L. simulatrix and L. sulcatus have high
contamination of iron and manganese, the same happens in sediment. stations 3 and 6 have the same insect species (L.bipunctatus), and
both have high contamination of lead, the same happens in water and
sediment; station 4 L. syriacus have high contamination of titanium
and vanadium, the same happens with water, and L. sulcatulus have
high contamination ofiron, the same happens in the sediment;
station 5 L. bipunctatus has high contamination of titanium, the
same happens in water; L. syriacus has high contamination of iron
and manganese, and the same happens in sediment and water.The
element concentration showed a general trend of Se
In Station 6 where the human activity is limited, Pb, As, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, Mn and Se residues determinates the extent of the element spread in Erzurum. When the results were compared to Turkish Water Pollution and Control Regulation [25], these results signify that the water bodies are highly polluted (IV). But the waters are high quality water (I) in regard to Zn and weakly polluted water (II) in regard to Fe. As it seen in (Table 3) there are four quality classes: high quality water (I), weakly polluted water (II), polluted water (III) and highly polluted water (IV) [25]. According to (Table 3), all stations’ waters have highly polluted (IV) with regard to Pb, As, Cr; highly polluted water quality (IV) and polluted water quality (III) in regard to Cu, Co; highly polluted water quality (IV) in regard to Ni but except to this 4th Station which has pollution free (I) in regard to Zn and Ba but except to this 6th Station which has high polluted water quality (IV). Se concentration measured only 6th station and has highly polluted water quality (IV). 1th and 2nd stations have III and IV water quality level in regard to Pb, As, Cr, Cu, Co, Ni and Mn, this can due to cement factory and also highway traffic. 3th Station has IV water quality level in regard to Pb, As, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni and Mn, Askale-Trabzon highway may lead to this. 4th Station has IV water quality level in regard to Pb and Cr this can be due to sugar factory wastes and also traffic due to Erzurum-Ilica road. 5th Station has IV water quality level in regard to Pb, As, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni and Mn, this can be due to traffic and domestic pollution. 6th station, where there is no industry around it and human activity is limited, has IV water quality level in regard to Pb, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, Mn, Se and Ba. Ba measured only the water of 6th stations and its water quality level is IV. In all samples, Ce, Mo, Sn, In, Ba, Nb, Pm and Pd elements and their concentrations (ppm) were measured but their concentrations were below EDXRF detection limit.
Discussions
In this study, concentration of heavy element in the water, the sediment and aquatic insect due to anthropogenic activity were measured. Also, potential use of some Laccobius spp. as biomonitor for heavy element pollution was evaluated. Laccobius spp. was evaluated for the first time as a biomonitor of heavy metal pollution. The study shows that the heavy element concentrations in sediments varied significantly. The sediments of station 1, 2 and 3 are enriched with these elements and byproduct of human activities (industrial, traffic and agricultural). Besides to sediment quality, water quality played a key role in space richness of Laccobius spp. because the contaminant residues in biologic materials reflect quality of environment [26]. Laccobius is a suitable species as bioindicator. Because it is; cosmopolitan; easily identifiable; represented in high abundance and wide spread in all over the monitoring area; have numerical abundance. Our study is in agreement with the earlier reports [12,13] and Laccobius spp. embodies all these criteria. Also as it is seen (Table 2) that aquatic beetles accumulate some elements in higher levels than their environments, hence these beetles can be useful tool for environmental monitoring studies. Most literature supports the fact that some aquatic insects are quite sensitive whereas others tolerant to pollution. Resulted degradation of aquatic environment and element concentrations in aquatic environments lead to a reduction of these insects’ richness and abundance. [27] reported that industrial and mining activities alter water beetle populations, [28] noted that the insects impacted by sugar cane cultivation, [29] in their studies showed that pollutants in the environment, resulted in obvious changes in biochemical processes and cytogenetic parameters and this will affect growth competence of insects, thus decrease in both richness and diversity of insects. Decreasing species level in Laccobius spp. as compared to [19] can be explained the current pollution statius of Erzurum province. Thus, our results are in accordance with the same studies.
Conclusion
When all of the findings are summarized, results confirm that Laccobius spp. accumulate more elements than their environments and can play important role to transport the elements from the sediments up into food web. These insects take up elements in excess of their need or they do not need such as Pb, As and accumulate these elements at higher concentration than their surrounding environments. As a food source of fishes, birds these insects represent a dangerous link for the transference of elements to upper trophic levels and finally to human. Analysis of the heavy element status of the sediment and water complemented the study. The accumulations of elements in the sediments reduce environmental quality and leads to bioaccumulation of elements by aquatic organisms. Despite being widely disturbed in Turkey, there is no Laccobius spp. based study to assess ecological quality. [19] recorded 11 spp. of Laccobius from Erzurum region. In this study were collected only 5 species. This decrease can be due to wide spread pollution in Erzurum. This pollution may cause in a near future severe damage to Erzurum wetlands and also other aquatic communities. Many of the measured heavy elements may have detrimental effects to the environment include human health. Thus, understanding the status and level of heavy element pollution is the basic idea for remediating the pollution from the environment. If pollution prevention does not occur, environmental pollution damage, decreasing of tourism activities, public health risk will rise in the future.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by Atatürk University Scientific Research Project (SRP) under grant (162/2012), and is a part of first author’s Ph. D. Thesis. The authors express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Bugrahan EMSEN in department of Biology at the University of Karamanoglu Mehmet Bey, for statistical analysis of samples.
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