Acidification as environmental pollution: effects on fish-pond ecology

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6282467

Murad, H A

To establish the impact of acidity on fish production in ponds, experiments were conducted in fertilized sunfish (Lepomis spp.) ponds and fed channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) ponds. The alkalinity and pH of pond water were lowered by additions of H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/. Total alkalinity levels were 1, 3, 6, 8, and 20 mg/liter in sunfish ponds and 0, 5, and 20 in catfish production ponds. Water quality and phytoplankton density were monitored. The decrease in alkalinity caused changes in fish production and phytoplankton communities. Production of sunfish decreased with decreasing alkalinity below 20 mg/liter. Channel catfish yields were not affected significantly at a total alkalinity of 5 mg/liter and above (P > 0.05). No sign of fish stress of aluminum accumulation in the tissue were detected in catfish. There was no relation between alkalinity level and off-flavor in catfish. Chlorophyll a concentration increased as alkalinity and pH decreased, although total number of phytoplankters, gross photosynthesis, and turbidity decreased with decreases in total alkalinity. Phosphorus was more available at low alkalinity levels. Total hardness increased as alkalinity decreased.

• Research Organization: Auburn Univ., AL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6282467
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FISHES
PRODUCTIVITY
PHYTOPLANKTON
POPULATION DENSITY
PONDS
ACIDIFICATION
CHLOROPHYLL
MONITORING
PH VALUE
PHOSPHORUS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
WATER QUALITY
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PLANKTON
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
RAIN
SURFACE WATERS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology