Effect of low dissolved oxygen on survival, emergence, and drift of tropical stream macroinvertebrates

The effect of different dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations on the macroinvertebrate assemblages from 2 Australian tropical streams (1 upland, 1 lowland) was measured using artificial stream mesocosms. Responses to 5-d exposures were tested. Both the upland and lowland assemblages showed a similar response. Most taxa tolerated all but very low DO levels (<10% saturation), although a reduction in emergence of insect taxa at intermediate levels (25-35% and 10-20% saturation) was observed. Mayflies showed the highest sensitivity to low oxygen conditions, and lethal effects were observed at DO levels <20% saturation for several upland and lowland species. For other taxa, including several Chironomidae, mortality was observed when oxygen concentrations were below 8% saturation. A drift response was observed only when oxygen concentrations reached near lethal levels (less than or equal to10% saturation). The lack of a drift response at DO concentrations of 25 to 35% and 10 to 20% saturation indicates that, in moderately poor oxygen conditions, macroinvertebrates will remain at a location and, hence, experience sublethal effects such as suppressed emergence. It is clear that these animals can persist in hypoxic conditions in the short term. However, because of sublethal effects, understanding how low DO concentrations affect natural assemblages of aquatic macroinvertebrates may require studies of populations over several generations.