Aquatic invertebrates in the Warrior Coal Basin of Alabama
Alabama has substantial quantities of high-grade coal with current reserves estimated at 23.4 billion tons. For the coal resources of Alabama to be developed in an environmentally sound manner will require increased knowledge of the aquatic ecosystems. This is necessary as aquatic systems ultimately receive the impact via surface runoff and groundwater infiltration from any perturbation in the terrestrial environment. Aquatic invertebrates are often utilized in conjunction with water quality parameters as indicators of the status of receiving waters in assessment studies. Since most aquatic invertebrates have very limited mobility and yearly life cycles, any dramatic change in their environment is reflected in their population levels. However, in general, aquatic invertebrates are often difficult to identify and, within Alabama, poorly known, both ecologically and faunistically. This lack of information necessitates that mine operators conduct expensive impact studies to meet state and federal environmental regulations.
- Research Organization:
- Alabama Geological Survey, University, AL (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7242161
- Report Number(s):
- PB-90-148610/XAB; BULL-127
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALABAMA
COAL RESERVES
COAL MINING
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
INVERTEBRATES
SENSITIVITY
WATER QUALITY
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
GROUND WATER
HABITAT
LEACHATES
REGULATIONS
RUNOFF
STREAMS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
DISPERSIONS
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION IV
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MINING
MIXTURES
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RESERVES
RESOURCES
SOLUTIONS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER
010900* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
540350 - Environment
Aquatic- Site Resource & Use Studies- (1990-)