Insect- Heavy Metal Dynamics in Pristine Anatolian Waters

Heavy metals (HMs) in aquatic environments pose a potential risk to the survival ofaquatic insects. These metals are common pollutants in water bodies and tend to sinkand accumulate in sediments. This study examined the distribution of aquatic insectsand their correlation with HMs concentrations in the waters of Ardahan, Kars andIğdır provinces in Northeast Anatolia (Türkiye), bordering the Caucasus mountainrange. In this region, HMs pollution is generally low because of minimal motorizedtraffic and limited industrial activity. Correlation analysis revealed positiverelationships between insects abundance and Mo (r =0.55), Co (r =0.49), Ni (r =0.42),and Fe (r =0.41). In contrast, As (arsenic) showed a weak correlation (r =+0.08),while Si (r =–0.13) and Hg (r =–0.12) exhibited slight negative associations. Silicondominates in Ardahan due to siliceous volcanic sedimentary geology with Cd and Pblargely absent, Kars exhibits extremely high Al and Fe with localized As enrichmentfrom basaltic volcanic and hydrothermal inputs and Iğdır shows moderate overalllevels with the exception of extreme Fe and As linked to Mount Ağrı’s volcanism andalluvial sediment transport. These patterns suggest a complex, nonlinear ecologicalresponse to varying element levels. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicatedthat sufficient insect samples were obtained from sites with relatively low HMsconcentrations. These findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of HMs inminimally industrialized freshwater systems and can inform future monitoring andassessments in both natural and industrial areas.