Effects of sediment pollution on food webs in a tropical river (Borneo, Indonesia)

Catherine M Yule; L Boyero; R Marchant

doi:10.1071/MF09065

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Effects of sediment pollution on food webs in a tropical river (Borneo, Indonesia)

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Effects of sediment pollution on food webs in a tropical river (Borneo, Indonesia)

Catherine M Yule, L Boyero and R Marchant

Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol.61(2), pp.204-213

2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/MF09065

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Abstract

dietary groups

gold mining

gut content analysis

Kelian River

macroinvertebrates

resilience

The impact of pollution on the trophic ecology of the Kelian River (Borneo, Indonesia) was studied by comparing food webs (on the basis of gut analysis and field and laboratory observations) at six sites. The upper sites were in pristine rainforest but the river became increasingly polluted downstream, largely owing to sedimentation from alluvial gold mining activities. Four previous studies all showed a downstream decrease in macroinvertebrates (mean abundance: 272 per 400 cm2 at Site 1 dropped to 2.6 at Site 6; mean number of taxa: 37.6 at Site 1 down to 1.6 at Site 6), and this was highly correlated with suspended solids. Food webs also reflected the effect of pollution. Cleaner sites had more complex food webs, with more elements, links, higher linkage density and higher complexity than did downstream polluted sites, which lacked grazers, shredders and filterers. Several taxa that were grazers at clean sites became collector-gatherers at polluted sites. Despite the enormous impact of pollution, cessation of alluvial mining activities resulted in some recovery. The resilience of the fauna is likely to be enhanced by the tropical conditions with high rainfall, rapid flow rates and high temperatures, coupled with rapid life cycles. Fish distribution and diets did not appear to be affected by pollution. © 2010 CSIRO.

Details

Title: Effects of sediment pollution on food webs in a tropical river (Borneo, Indonesia)
Authors: Catherine M Yule (Author) - Monash University
L Boyero (Author) - James Cook University
R Marchant (Author) - Museum Victoria
Publication details: Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol.61(2), pp.204-213
Publisher: C S I R O Publishing
Date published: 2010
DOI: 10.1071/MF09065
ISSN: 1323-1650
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450869002621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Fisheries; Limnology; Marine & Freshwater Biology; Oceanography

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