Kurt W. Pontasch

Community similarity and the analysis of multispecies environmental data: A unified statistical approach

Abstract The number of species or variables in some designed environmental studies is too large for analysis using standard inferential statistics. To analyze the type of data, a two-stage procedure and follow-up methods are described. First, data are reduced using a measure of similarity or distance. Then, a permutation procedure is used to make inferences. Assuming the hypothesis is rejected, several follow-up analyses are presented as tools in understanding the causes of rejection. For example, to further understand treatment effects, a randomization based, multiple comparison procedure may be used; to better understand what differences the similarity or distance measure describes, a method based on removal of a species is given. The methods are illustrated on a study of the effects of zinc on the periphyton community in the New River, Va, U.S.A.

Multispecies toxicity tests using indigenous organisms: Predicting the effects of complex effluents in streams

A study was conducted to determine if contaminant-induced changes in macroinvertebrate communities in laboratory stream microcosms could be used to predict responses of these organisms in a natural stream receiving the same contaminant. Test organisms were transferred to the artificial streams in rock-filled containers previously colonized for 30 days upstream of the effluent outfall. The microcosms were exposed for 20 days to concentrations of the effluent that reflected those at field sites where macroinvertebrates were collected.The stream microcosms maintained most taxa at or above initial densities. However, adult insect emergence from the microcosms must be monitored during such studies. The relative sensitivity of species and the effluent concentrations causing changes in insect density were similar in the microcosms and the field. Mayflies were the most sensitive group, and densities in the microcosms were significantly (P ⩽ 0.05) reduced at 1.0% or 10.0% effluent concentration depending on species. Conversely, chironomids densities were increased by exposure to the effluent. The mayflies responded at lower concentrations than acute tests withDaphnia magna would have predicted.

Field evaluation of predictions of environmental effects from a multispecies-microcosm toxicity test

The predictive validity of a multispecies-microcosm toxicity test was evaluated. Predictions of biological response to a complex effluent were made from dose-response curves in laboratory tests and compared to observed effects in the receiving system. No effects on protozoan or macroinvertebrate communities were observed at the field site with effluent concentrations less than the chronic value of 1.7% effluent determined in laboratory tests. In addition, the microcosm test accurately predicted the magnitude of decreases in species richness in protozoan and macroinvertebrate communities in the receiving system at the first downstream site. Predictions of environmental effects for stations farther downstream were generally less accurate and too high, perhaps due to lack of persistence in the toxicity of the effluent. Stimulation of total biomass and algal growth were observed in both laboratory and field tests, but laboratory tests greatly overestimated the magnitude of enrichment responses in the receiving system.

Diversity indices, community comparison indices and canonical discriminant analysis: Interpreting the results of multispecies toxicity tests

Abstract Canonical discriminant analysis, diversity indices and community comparison indices were evaluated to determine their utility in quantifying macroinvertebrate response to a complex effluent in laboratory microcosms. The Shannon and Simpson diversity indices and the following community comparison indices were analyzed: (1) Renkonens percentage similarity; (2) Bray-Curtis index; (3) average χ 2 index; (4) Standers SIMI index; (5) Pinkham-Pearson index; and (6) Canberra metric index. Statistical inferences were made with the diversity measures using an ANOVA in conjunction with Duncans test. A permutation or randomization procedure was used to test the hypothesis of no treatment effect based on the community comparison indices. The canonical discriminant analysis was primarily influenced by the drop in mayfly densities in the higher dose microcosms and indicated that the high-dose microcosms were different from the other microcosms. The Shannon and Simpson diversity measures indicated that both the medium- and high-dose microcosms were significantly different ( P ⩽ 0.05) from the control microcosm, but this response was due solely to the increase in density of chironomids. When the diversity indices were calculated without chironomids, they failed to reflect adverse effects on mayflies in the medium-dose microcosms. The statistical inferences for all community comparison indices were similar and indicated that the high dose microcosms were significantly ( P ⩽ 0.06) different from the control. However, the Bray-Curtis index provided the most meaningful condensation of data.

Establishing and maintaining laboratory-based microcosms of riffle insect communities: their potential for multispecies toxicity tests

The purpose of this study was to determine which of the following artificial stream designs would be most logistically simple yet effective in maintaining riffle insects during a 30 d bioassay: 1) static and no current (S-NC); 2) flow-through and no current (FT-NC); 3) static with current (S-C); or 4) flow-through with current (FT-C). Flow-through and current, when provided, were 12 ml min−1 and 30 cm sec−1, respectively. Streams were covered by emergence traps, and daylight equivalent lights provided a natural photoperiod. The four stream designs were evaluated in triplicate based on changes in insect species-abundances after 30 d. Test organisms were transferred to the artificial streams in rock-filled containers previously colonized for 30 d in a third-order mountain stream riffle. Additional colonized substrates were sampled immediately to provide an estimate of initial densities placed in the artificial streams. Hess samples were taken directly from the source riffle to evaluate how well the artificial substrates reflected species-abundances on the natural substrate. Adults were collected from the artificial streams every 48–72 h to determine the percentage of initial densities that emerged. After 30 d (7 Aug–6 Sept, 1986), all organisms remaining in the streams were censused. Designs were evaluated using combined densities of adults and young.Relative to benthic samples taken directly from the source riffle, the artificial substrates selected for collector-filterers and against collector-gatherers. The FT-C and S-C stream designs maintained most taxa at or above initial densities, and even in the FT-NC and S-NC streams densities of some taxa were not significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) from initial densities. Emergent adults comprised a large proportion of mayfly and chironomid densities and must be monitored during bioassays with aquatic insects. These results indicate that microcosms of riffle insect communities can be maintained for at least 30 d with moderate current and minimal flow-through.

Evaluating soluble toxicants in contaminated soils

Complex mixtures of water soluble materials from contaminated soils can move into groundwater and surface water by leaching, percolation, and runoff. We evaluated the potential toxicity of leachable materials from seven soils. Five soil samples were obtained at designated toxic or hazardous waste sites, and two additional soils samples were obtained from a coal storage area and from an agricultural field. Acidified tap water (pH 4.5) was used to extract toxic materials from elution columns filled with soil samples. Extracts were used as complex mixtures to conduct acute toxicity tests using Daphnia and chronic effects tests using aquatic microcosms. Three classes of effects were observed. Three soil leachates showed acute and chronic toxicity at less than 3% leachate. Two of these soils were contaminated by materials used in wood preserving, and the third soil was contaminated with heavy metals and acid. Two soils showed moderate acute toxicity but no chronic toxicity in microcosm tests. One of these soils was contaminated with low levels of chromium while the other soil was from a coal storage area. The remaining two soil samples showed no toxicity in either acute or chronic toxicity tests. One of these soils was from a reference agricultural field while the other soil was contaminated with solvents. The failure to detect toxicity in the solvent contaminated sample was attributed to the hydrophobicity of the toxicity materials. Results of these toxic screenings are in the same range as leachate toxicities estimated using other methods, although other methods use extraction materials that may interfere with some biological tests. Toxicological evaluations of materials from suspected contaminated soil are recommended for prioritizing clean up efforts at waste sites and for determining if toxic materials and contaminated soils have been effectively removed.