Comparative analyses of fish populations in naturally acidic and circumneutral lakes in northern Wisconsin

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:6742735

Wiener, J G

Fish populations in six naturally acidic (autumnal pH 5.1 to 6.0) and six circumneutral (autumnal pH 6.7 to 7.5) clear-water lakes in north central Wisconsin were studied, and characteristics of fish populations and communities in the lakes were compared. The two groups of lakes were morphologically similar and of the same hydrologic types, but differed substantially in pH, alkalinity, waterborne calcium, and related chemical characteristics. Fish communities in the acidic lakes contained fewer species, and common as well as rare species occurred with lower frequency in the acidic lakes than in the circumneutral lakes. Certain taxa, such as minnows and darters were well represented in the circumneutral lakes, but were absent or scarce in the acidic lakes. Growth, condition, and serum calcium concentrations of bluegills were negatively correlated with population density and were not related to either pH or waterborne calcium concentrations in these lakes. Results of serum calcium analyses suggested that white suckers were stressed in lakes with autumnal pH equal to or less than 5.6 and water borne calcium equal to or less than 2.0 mg/l. Mean concentrations of Cd and Pb in whole, 4-year-old bluegills were inversely correlated with both pH and waterborne calcium concentration. Mercury levels in axial muscle tissue of walleyes from two acidic lakes were substantially higher than in walleyes of the same age from three circumneutral lakes and exceeded the 1.0 ug/g USFDA Action Level in about 35% of the fish analyzed. 168 references, 6 figures, 21 tables.

• Research Organization: Fish and Wildlife Service, Kearneysville, WV (USA). Eastern Energy and Land Use Team
• OSTI ID: 6742735
• Report Number(s): FWS/OBS-80/40.16; ON: DE84901178
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CADMIUM
CALCIUM
CHEMISTRY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION V
FISHES
INFORMATION
LAKES
LEAD
MERCURY
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
PH VALUE
PHYSIOLOGY
POPULATION DYNAMICS
RAIN
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER CHEMISTRY
WISCONSIN