Fish population losses from Adirondack lakes: The role of surface water acidity and acidification

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Water Resources Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92WR02329· OSTI ID:6043662

Baker, J P ^[1]; Warren-Hicks, W J ^[2]; Gallagher, J ^[3]; Christensen, S W ^[4]

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1. Western Aquatics, Inc., Durham, NC (United States)
2. Cadmus Group, Inc., Durham, NC (United States)
3. New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Albany (United States)
4. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)

Within the United States, the Adirondack region of New York State has the largest percentage of waters that are acidic and classified as deposition dominated. Thus, the Adirondacks have been the focus of much of the debate regarding the extent and magnitude of effects to date from acidic deposition. Completion of the Adirondack Lakes Survey in 1987, a survey of 1,469 lakes, in combination with the relatively extensive historical record on fish communities in the region, provided the opportunity for a thorough evaluation of changes in Adirondack fish communities over the last 50-60 years, and the degree to which these changes may have resulted from changes in surface water acid-base chemistry. Results indicate that 16-19% of the lakes with adequate historical data appeared to have lost one or more fish populations as a result of acidification. Brook trout and acid-sensitive minnows had experienced the most widespread effects, with losses in 11-19% of the lakes. Fish species occurring in lower elevation and larger lakes such as bass and brown trout, experienced little or no effects. Lakes judged to have lost fish populations to acidification had significantly lower pH and higher concentrations of inorganic aluminum and occurred at higher elevations than other lakes. No other lake characteristics showed consistent associations with fish population losses. Acidification is not the only factor, nor even the dominant factor affecting Adirondack fish communities, however. Other causes of fish loses include lake reclamation, changes in stocking policy, and the introduction (or invasion) of competitors or predators.

• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6043662
• Journal Information: Water Resources Research; (United States), Vol. 29:4; ISSN 0043-1397
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACIDIFICATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS
LAKES
FISHES
COMMUNITIES
POPULATION DYNAMICS
DEPOSITION
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CHEMISTRY
NEW YORK
WATER
ANIMALS
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MOUNTAINS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)