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Fish health changes in Lake Okaro, New Zealand: effects of nutrient remediation, season or eutrophication?

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Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to measure the in situ health of selected biota with respect to a large-scale application of an aluminium-amended zeolite (Z2G1) in Lake Okaro, New Zealand. We hypothesized that, based on previous laboratory toxicity testing, the Z2G1 application would have minimal or no significant health effects on lake fauna. To test this hypothesis, two sampling events were timed around the Z2G1 application to examine the health of two finfish species (Oncorhynchus mykiss and Gobiomorphus cotidianus) and crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons). Additionally, the same species were sampled from the neighbouring Lake Rerewhakaaitu in order to delineate seasonal and lake-specific effects. A general lack of aluminium accumulation in animal tissues following the application indicated that Z2G1-derived aluminium was not readily bioavailable. An unexplained osmoregulatory disturbance, indicated by increased blood plasma ion concentrations in Lake Okaro trout, was observed following the application, but could not be directly attributed to Z2G1 exposure. Changes in fish haematology over time and between lake populations were interpreted as physiological responses to seasonal changes in lake conditions. Using a broad range of specific and non-specific endpoints it was concluded that there were no obvious negative impacts on fish health resulting from Z2G1 exposure.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (EBOP) with additional support through the Foundation of Research, Science and Technology (Contract UOWX0505). The authors thank the following organisations and people for their help during this project: EBOP—John McIntosh, Andy Bruere, Paul Scholes and Rob Donald; Scion—Sean Taylor and Natalie Bleackley; Waikato University—Jeroen Brijs, Deniz Özkundakci, Dudley Bell, Warrick Powrie, Jenny Stockdill and Steve Cameron; Eastern Region Fish and Game—Rob Pitkethley; NIWA—Stephanie Parkyn and Aslan Wright-Stow. Special thanks are also due to Deniz Özkundakci for assistance with time/depth data plots.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sustainable Design, Scion, Rotorua, New Zealand

    Michael J. Landman

  2. Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Nicholas Ling

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Nicholas Ling

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  1. Michael J. Landman
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  2. Nicholas Ling
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Correspondence to Nicholas Ling.

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Guest editors: D. P. Hamilton, M. J. Landman / Lake Restoration: An Experimental Ecosystem Approach for Eutrophication Control

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Landman, M.J., Ling, N. Fish health changes in Lake Okaro, New Zealand: effects of nutrient remediation, season or eutrophication?. Hydrobiologia 661, 65–79 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0315-7

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