Mining and urbanization affect river chemical water quality and macroinvertebrate communities in the upper Selenga River basin, Mongolia (revised version).

ABSTRACT: Mongolia is a country with a quickly growing economy mainly based on the mining of gold, copper, coal, and other minerals. Mining, urbanization, and agriculture impact the water quality in the upper Selenga River basin in northern Mongolia, which is the center of the Mongolian economy. Previous measurements of pollution loads were alarming, but restricted to chemical measurements. Here, for the first time, we combine freshwater biomonitoring and laboratory water quality data across a broad gradient of water quality and land use intensity. We track the effects of different types of pollution on aquatic invertebrates and test their use as bioindicators. We collected water samples, environmental parameters, and macroinvertebrates at 36 sampling sites at the rivers of Tuul, Kharaa, and Orkhon

SUBMITTER: Narangarvuu D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11496312 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature