| dc.contributor.author | Byrne, Colin | |
| dc.contributor.author | Gray, N.F. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-04-09T15:51:42Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-04-09T15:51:42Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2018-04 | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Colin Byrne, N.F. Gray, 'Environmental Impact of Acid Mine Drainage on the Avoca River: Effect of Habitat Types on Biological Monitoring of the Macroinvertebrate Fauna.', [report], Tigroney Press, 2018-04, Technical Report (Water Technology Research), 17, 1994-11 (reissued 2018-04-02) | en |
| dc.identifier.isbn | 9781912290185 | |
| dc.description | Routine biological monitoring of the Avoca River downstream of the input of acid mine drainage (AMD) consistently shows a significant impact on both diversity and productivity. The aim of this study was to identify if there was a significant difference in productivity and diversity between habitats at individual sites, and to establish the most effective sampling methodology to assess the impact of AMD. Only three discernible habitats could be identified in the Avoca River. These were classed as riffle, glide and pool, although the latter was restricted due to the erosional nature of the river. Six site locations were selected to examine the uncontaminated river, the mixing and recovery zones. Replicate samples (5) were
taken as an evenly spaced transect across the river at each site. Forty-two taxa were identified during this study, indicating that collection from a wider selection of sub-sites at each location did not significantly increase either the diversity or abundance compared to the routine sampling approach currently adopted (i.e. three minute kick and stone wash sample at a single selected site). However, selection of areas at each sample site is shown to be critical, due to the wide variation in diversity and abundance across the river (e.g. site 6). Therefore it is desirable to select a range of different sites at each sample location. At all habitat types there was a clear decrease in the number of taxa and faunal abundance to low levels in the mixing zone with a slow improvement downstream but not to full recovery. The percentage representation of Chironomidae showed an increase in response to AMD rising to almost 100% at Site 3 (mixing zone) and then decreased. In general, there was no taxa unique to sites impacted by AMD. As noted above the response of the faunal community to AMD was a significant drop in the number of taxa accompanied by a sharp drop in the abundance of taxa remaining. Collection of five replicate pond-net kick samples (20 seconds duration) is considered adequate for monitoring the impact of AMD on the Avoca River. While all quantitative indices (Taxa numbers, Faunal abundance and Percentage representation of Chironomidae in the fauna) demonstrated statistically significant impact of AMD on all habitats (Riffle, Glide and Pool), use of taxa numbers in riffle areas was found to have the greatest discriminatory power. It is therefore
recommended as a simple and effective index. | en |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | Tigroney Press | en |
| dc.rights | Y | en |
| dc.subject | Acid mine drainage | en |
| dc.subject | Avoca River | en |
| dc.subject | Mine pollution | en |
| dc.subject | Freshwater pollution | en |
| dc.subject | Macroinvertebrates | en |
| dc.title | Environmental Impact of Acid Mine Drainage on the Avoca River: Effect of Habitat Types on Biological Monitoring of the Macroinvertebrate Fauna. | en |
| dc.type | report | en |
| dc.contributor.sponsor | European Union | en |
| dc.type.supercollection | edepositireland | |
| dc.publisher.place | ireland | en |
| dc.description.version | 1st edition (reissued) | en |
| dc.relation.ecprojectid | info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/EV5V-CT93-0248 | |
| dc.rights.ecaccessrights | openAccess | |
| dc.contributor.sponsorGrantNumber | EV5V-CT93-0248 | en |
| dc.relation.ispartofseriesdate | 1994-11 (reissued 2018-04-02) | en |
| dc.relation.ispartofseriestitle | Technical Report (Water Technology Research) | en |
| dc.relation.ispartofseriesvolume | 17 | en |
| dc.rights.holder | Water Technology Research | en |
| dc.relation.relatedto | ISBN (print version) 1872220185 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2262/82742 | |
