Experimental acidification of a stream tributary to Hubbard Brook. Environmental research brief

Technical Report · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5099215

Hall, R J; Likens, G E

Long- (5 mo.) and short-term (1 h to 2 days) effects of acidic pH were measured in a poorly buffered mountain stream within the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. Over a 5-month period aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and potassium were mobilized into the stream water during experimental acidification, and nitrogen was lost via invertebrates and organic matter. Periphyton biomass increased at low pH and fungal densities increased. Emergence of adult mayflies, stoneflies and true flies decreased, whereas immature invertebrates in the drift increased. Short-term pulses of acid also changed the stream ecosystem as indicated by significant net fluxes of organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in biologically bound forms. Aluminum chloride was added to the stream to simulate increased aluminum concentrations during snowmelt. A significant decrease in pH and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) occurred, as well as an increase in foam accumulation at the stream surface. Foam production is thought to be due to decreased surface tension of the water. A 20% reduction of surface tension of stream water was measured in the laboratory. The cause of the reduction is postulated to be the formation of organo-aluminum complexes in the stream. Increases in aluminum concentration were accompanied by changes in both terrestrial and aquatic drift behavior. Six citations are given for complete publications.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5099215
• Report Number(s): PB-85-222792/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOMASS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEDERAL REGION I
FORESTS
FRESH WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLYSIS
INSECTICIDES
LYSIS
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
POLLUTION
RAIN
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLVOLYSIS
STREAMS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACE TENSION
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER
WATER POLLUTION