Mortality of walleye eggs and rainbow trout yolk-sac larvae in low-pH waters in the LaCloche Mountain area, Ontario

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1983)112<680:MOWEAR>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:5318281

Hulsman, P F; Powles, P M; Gunn, J M

Freshly fertilized eggs of walleye Stizostedion vitreum were incubated in the outlet waters of George Lake (pH 5.4) and sections of a nearby stream (pH 6.0, 6.6). Ten-day bioassays with yolk-sac larvae of rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri were run concurrently at the walleye sites and at additional sites with low pH (4.6) and with humic water (pH 5.5). Walleye egg mortality was low (25.5 - 33.5%) at pH 6.0. High mortality (90.5%) occurred between fertilization and the eyed-egg stage at the pH 5.4 site. Mortality of rainbow trout yolk-sac larvae approached 100% within 5 days at both pH 4.6 and 5.4. In contrast, total mortality was less than 3% at pH 6.0 and also in low-pH humic water (pH 5.5). The high mortality of walleye eggs in the acidic outlet waters of George Lake suggests that the acidification of this lake was responsible for the extinction of its walleye stock. The striking differences in mortality of rainbow trout yolk-sac larvae between sites of similar pH (5.4-5.5) indicated that H/sup +/-toxicity was not solely responsible for fish mortality in acid water. Results draw attention to the effects that biologically available forms of toxic metals, particularly of aluminum, have on fish survival. 26 references, 5 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Trent Univ., Peterborough, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 5318281
• Journal Information: Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 112; ISSN TAFSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CANADA
FISHES
HUMIC ACIDS
LAKES
LARVAE
MORTALITY
NORTH AMERICA
ONTARIO
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
RAIN
SURFACE WATERS
TOXICITY
TROUT
VERTEBRATES