Production of arthropod pests and vectors in coal-strip-mine ponds

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5382040

Pickard, E

The objective was to determine the species of aquatic arthropod pests, mainly mosquitoes, that were breeding in abandoned coal strip mine ponds, their population densities, and whether these breeding sites would serve as foci for annoyance to surrounding human populations. Nine study ponds were selected in Marion County, Alabama, on the basis of age since formation, with a total of three test ponds in each of three age categories: 1 year old, 5 years old, and 10 years old. These ponds were observed for five successive years; thus, data obtained from surveys depict successional changes in aquatic insect and plant species composition over a period of 14 successive years. Mosquito larvae of four genera including eight species were collected from the strip ponds. Mosquito production was not detected until ponds were at least two years old, and ponds five years old and older were the most productive for mosquitoes. Mosquito production in all ponds was sparse and restricted to narrow vegetated areas along shallow marginal shelves, and the level of mosquito activity was not sufficient to cause severe annoyance to surrounding communities. There was a paucity of insects of medical importance in benthic samples in the nine study ponds; only three genera of public health importance were collected, which consisted of Palpomyia, Chrysops, and Tabanus. Water chemistry of all ponds studied provided very favorable conditions for supporting various fauna and flora. Data obtained during the 5-year study showed no significant change in the pH of the water in the nine study ponds as they increased in age. The dissolved oxygen content of the water in the ponds varied widely with pond age and seasonal changes, ranging from 9.1 to 14.1 ppM.

• Research Organization: Tennessee Valley Authority, Muscle Shoals, AL (USA). Div. of Water Resources
• OSTI ID: 5382040
• Report Number(s): EPA-600/7-81-160; TVA/ONR/WR-82/7; ON: DE82903622
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
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& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
012000* -- Coal
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& Peat-- Mining
ABANDONED SITES
ALABAMA
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
CHEMISTRY
COAL MINING
DATA
DIPTERA
ECOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION IV
INFORMATION
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
MINING
MOSQUITOES
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
PH VALUE
PLANTS
PONDS
RECOMMENDATIONS
SPECIES DIVERSITY
SURFACE MINING
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER CHEMISTRY