What is the status of benthic communities in the St. Lawrence River?
Indicator name: Benthic communities
Status: Moderate to poor
Trend: No change
Highlights
Benthic macroinvertebrates—insects, worms and molluscs that live on the bottom of lakes and rivers—can be used to determine whether environmental conditions are good or show signs of disturbance. According to the results of monitoring studies conducted by Environment and Climate Change Canada scientists, the status of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the St. Lawrence River ranges from moderate to poor depending on the sector concerned. An upstream-downstream gradient of degradation has been observed between Lake Saint-François and Lake Saint-Pierre. In Lake Saint-Pierre, all the coastal benthic communities have been exposed to pesticide contamination.