Multiple-stressor effects on stream macroinvertebrate communities: A mesocosm experiment manipulating salinity, fine sediment and flow velocity

Stream ecosystems are impacted by multiple stressors worldwide. Recent studies have shown that the effects of multiple stressors are often complex and difficult to predict based on the effects of single stressors. More research is needed to understand stressor impacts on stream communities and to design appropriate counteractions. We carried out an outdoor mesocosm experiment to assess single and interactive multiple-stressor effects on stream macroinvertebrates in a setup with controlled application of three globally important stressors, namely, reduced stream flow velocity, deposition of fine sediment and increased chloride concentration in a full-factorial design. Each mesocosm comprised three compartments (channel substratum, leaf litter bag and drift net) that were individually analyzed and also compared. We identified 102,501 specimens in total (mainly to family level), 36.5% of which were found in the substratum, 60.6% in litter bags and 2.9% in the drift. Added fine sediment and reduced flow velocity had strong negative single-stressor effects on the abundances of EPT taxa, i.e. Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies) and Trichoptera (caddisflies), and a positive effect on chironomid abundances in the substratum. Increased salt concentration reduced abundances of Ephemeroptera. Chironomids migrated from litter bag to channel substratum when water velocity was reduced and Leptophlebiidae in the opposite direction when sediment was added. All three stressors caused higher drift propensities, especially added fine sediment. Both additive and complex multiple-stressor effects were common. A complex three-way interaction affected EPT richness in the substratum, demonstrating the need to evaluate higher-order interactions for more than two stressors. Our results add further evidence that multiple-stressor interactions, notably increased salinity with other stressors, affect a variety of invertebrate taxa across different habitats of stream communities. The results have direct implications for water management as they highlight the need to re-evaluate defined salinity thresholds in the context of multiple-stressor interactions.