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Fish responses to acidity in Québec lakes: A review

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Abstract

To establish the impact of acidity on fish populations,studies were conducted in 37 Québec lakes located in four regions; the réserve des Laurentides and Portneuf and the Charlevoix and Témiscamingue regions. Density (catch per unit effort) of brook chary (Salvelinus fontinalis) decreases with increasing acidity. Moreover, in the Charlevoix region, this species has disappeared from three acid lakes (4.6 ⩽pH⩽5.l) with low Ca levels. Unlike growth, condition demonstrates a close relationship to acidity in brook charr populations. The total Al concentration in gills decreases with increasing size and pH. Lake acidity and sensitivity to acidification introduces problems in gamefish management. A survey of 17 lakes of the Témiscamingue region reveals that species diversity and total fish biomass are much lower in acid lakes than non acid lakes. In addition, two acid lakes are devoid of fish. Cyprinidae and Johnny darters (Etheostoma nigrum) are abundant in lakes with a pH level of 5.9 to 7.0 but are absent in lakes with a pH lower than 5.2. The yellow perch (Perca flavescens) is the only fish that appears to be tolerant to a wide pH range. This species, however, is in poor condition in acid lakes as compared with non acid lakes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministère de l'Environnement du Québec, Direction des relevés aquatiques, 3900 rue Marly, 5ième étage, GIX 4E4, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada

    J. -J. Frenette & Y. Richard

  2. Département de biologie, Université Laval, Cité Universitaire, GIK 7P4, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada

    G. Moreau

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  1. J. -J. Frenette
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  2. Y. Richard
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  3. G. Moreau
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Frenette, J.J., Richard, Y. & Moreau, G. Fish responses to acidity in Québec lakes: A review. Water Air Soil Pollut 30, 461–475 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305215

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