Hidden impacts of environmental stressors on freshwater communities could be revealed at lower concentrations by correlation of abundances network analyses: An example with herbicides glyphosate, 2,4-D, and their mixtures

Multiple stressors affect freshwater systems worldwide. Ecotoxicological studies are often focused on the abundance analysis of their communities. In this study, I discuss the possibility of incorporating correlation networks to earlier bring to light the possible hidden effects of environmental stressors on community interactions. A re-analysis of the published data from an experiment where the herbicides glyphosate, 2,4-D and their mixtures were applied in microcosms revealed that correlation networks can detect impacts on the community interactions at herbicide concentrations lower than those in which abundances were drastically modified. I propose the correlation of abundances network analysis (CANA) as a new approach for ecotoxicological freshwater community studies.

Automated summary

This study discusses the possibility of using correlation networks to uncover the hidden effects of environmental stressors on community interactions in ecotoxicological studies. A re-analysis of published data reveals that correlation networks can detect impacts on community interactions at lower herbicide concentrations than those that significantly alter abundances. The proposed approach, called correlation of abundances network analysis (CANA), offers a new method for studying freshwater communities in ecotoxicology.