Impacts of increased water temperature and emerging contaminants on some biological traits of caddisfly larvae

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Učinci povišene temperature vode i onečišćujućih tvari na nekoliko bioloških obilježja ličinki tulara
• Author: Antonia Smolić
• Mentor: Ana Previšić (mentor)
• Mentor: Filip Ložek (komentor)
• Committee member: Ana Previšić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Mirela Sertić Perić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Nenad Judaš (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Mirta Rubčić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024-02-27, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Urbanization and inadequate wastewater treatment contaminate freshwater ecosystems with
complex chemicals, which, along with climate change, threaten freshwater insects. To assess
these impacts, we conducted a 21-day microcosm experiment simulating a simplified
freshwater food web containing moss and larvae of two caddisfly species, Drusus croaticus
and Allogamus uncatus. The experiment included control (C), increased temperature (T2 = C +
4 °C), emerging contaminants mixture (EC), and multiple stressor treatment (MS = EC + T2).
We analysed caddisfly mortality, body weight, locomotor activity (distance moved), and
compared species-specific effect of selected stressors. ECs exposure increased average body
weight in both species with contrasting effects on locomotor activity, increasing larval average
distance moved in D. croaticus but reducing it in A. uncatus. T2 treatment caused the highest
mortality for D. croaticus larvae, while the mortality of A. uncatus larvae was similar in all
treatments. MS treatment significantly impacted D. croaticus larvae behaviour, leading to
reduced larval average distance moved compared to other treatments, highlighting the
complexity of multiple stressor interactions. The observed interspecies variability emphasizes
the importance of considering species-specific characteristics in ecological risk assessments.
These findings offer insights into how multiple stressors may impact caddisfly populations,
crucial members of aquatic ecosystems.

Abstract (english)

Urbanizacija i neadekvatna obrada otpadnih voda onečišćuju slatkovodne ekosustave smjesama
onečišćivača, koji s klimatskim promjenama ugrožavaju slatkovodne kukce. U svrhu procjene
tih utjecaja, proveli smo 21-dnevni eksperiment stimulirajući pojednostavljenu slatkovodnu
hranidbenu mrežu s mahovinom i ličinkama dviju vrsta tulara, Drusus croaticus i Allogamus
uncatus. Eksperiment je uključivao kontrolnu skupinu (C), tretman s povišenom temperaturom
(T2 = C + 4 °C), smjesom onečišćivača (EC) te višestrukim stresorima (MS = EC + T2).
Analizirali smo smrtnost, srednju tjelesnu težinu, lokomotornu aktivnost (srednja prijeđena
udaljenost) tulara te usporedili učinak odabranih stresora specifično na svaku vrstu. Izloženost
smjesi onečišćivača povećala je prosječnu tjelesnu težinu u obje vrste, s kontrastnim učincima
na lokomotornu aktivnost, povećavajući prosječnu prijeđenu udaljenost ličinki D. croaticus te
je smanjujući za ličinke A. uncatus. Povišena temperatura (T2) uzrokovala je najveću smrtnost
ličinki D. croaticus, dok je smrtnost ličinki A. uncatus bila slična u svim tretmanima. Tretman
višestrukim stresorima značajno je utjecao na ponašanje ličinki D. croaticus, smanjujući
prosječnu prijeđenu udaljenost u usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom i drugim tretmanima,
naglašavajući složenost interakcija višestrukih stresora. Uočena varijabilnost među vrstama
naglašava važnost razmatranja karakteristika specifičnih za pojedinu vrstu. Naša otkrića
pružaju uvid u utjecaj višestrukih stresora na populacije tulara, ključne članove vodenih
ekosustava.

• Keywords: climate change; pollution; Trichoptera; multiple stressors; locomotor activity
• Keywords (english): klimatske promjene; zagađenje; Trichoptera; višestruki stresori; lokomotorna aktivnost
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:366312
• Project: Number: PZS-2019-02-9479; Title: Učinci višestrukih stresora na biološku raznolikost i funkcije slatkovodnih ekosustava; Acronym: MUSE; Leader: Ana Previšić; Jurisdiction: Croatia; Funder: Hrvatska zaklada za znanost (HRZZ); Funding stream: Program suradnje s hrvatskim znanstvenicima u dijaspori "ZNANSTVENA SURADNJA"
• Study programme: Title: Biology and Chemistry Education-University integrated undergraduate and graduate programme; specializations in: Biology; Course: Biology; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: sveučilišni/a magistar/magistra edukacije biologije i kemije (sveučilišni/a magistar/magistra edukacije biologije i kemije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Embargoed access; Embargo expiration date: 2026-02-27
• Created on: 2024-04-23 09:52:27