Early stages of recovery of the damaged ecosystems near Sudbury following emission reductions
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Sudbury, Ontario (Canada). Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit
Nearly a 90% reduction of SO{sub 2} and metal particulate emissions from Sudbury smelters has been achieved through industrial control programs during the past 25 years. Reappearance of epiphytic lichens provided some of the earliest evidence of biological recovery of severely damaged ecosystems in this area. Acid- and metal-contamination of soil, severe microclimate conditions, and the damaging effects of insect pests appear to delay recovery of vascular plants, which have been relatively slow to recover. Metal-tolerant grasses were the first species to invade the barren area. Between 1970 and 1989 conifers recolonized approximately 22% of the semi-barren area, an area that until recently consisted of a near-monoculture of stunted white birch. Significant improvements in water quality have occurred in many of the estimated 7,000 acid-damaged lakes, however, most affected lakes still have a pH below 6.0, and the lakes closest to the smelters have high concentrations of Cu and Ni. Many species of acid-sensitive phytoplankton, zooplankton and insects have invaded lakes where improvements have occurred. Recovery rates of aquatic ecosystems are also affected by various physical, chemical and biotic interactions.
- OSTI ID:
- 351037
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970677-; TRN: IM9925%%199
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 90. annual meeting and exhibition of the Air and Waste Management Association, Toronto (Canada), 8-13 Jun 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of 1997 proceedings of the Air and Waste Management Association`s 90. annual meeting and exhibition; PB: [7000] p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Abundance and distribution of lichens found in the reclaimed areas of the nickel and copper mining region of Sudbury, Ontario
Liming of acidified Swedish lakes and streams and its consequences for aquatic ecosystems