Biology and Chemistry of Three Pennsylvania Lakes: Responses to Acid Precipitation

  • P. T. Bradt
  • J. L. Dudley
  • M. B. Berg
  • D. S. Barrasso
Conference paper

Abstract

The biology and chemistry of three northeastern Pennsylvania lakes was studied from summer 1981 through summer 1983 to evaluate lakes with different sensitivities to acidification. At the acidified lake (total alkalinity ≤0.0 µeq L−1) there were fewer phytoplankton and zooplankton species than at the moderately sensitive lakes. The most numerous plankton species in all three lakes are reportedly acid tolerant. Among the benthic macro- invertebrates (BMI) there were more acid tolerant Chironomidae at the acidified lake, but more acid intolerant Ephemeroptera and Mollusca and a higher wet weight at the least sensitive lake. There were no differences among the lakes1 BMI mean total numbers or mean number of taxa. The fish community at the acidified lake was dominated by stunted Lepomis gibbosus, but L. machrochirous were most abundant in the other lakes. Principal component analysis suggested a shift in all three lakes over the sampling period toward combined lower pH, alkalinity, specific conductance, Ca and Mg and higher A1 and Mn. Such chemical changes have been associated with acidification. The rate and extent of acidification appeared to be controlled by geological and hydrological characteristics of the drainage basins.

Keywords

Drainage Basin Specific Conductance Total Alkalinity American Public Health Association Deep Lake 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 1986

Authors and Affiliations

  • P. T. Bradt
    • 1
  • J. L. Dudley
    • 1
  • M. B. Berg
    • 2
  • D. S. Barrasso
    • 3
  1. 1.Ctr. Marine & Environ. Studies, Chandler #17Lehigh Univ.BethlehemUSA
  2. 2.Dept. Biol. Sci.Univ. Notre DameNotre DameUSA
  3. 3.Waksman Inst. MicrobiologyPiscatawayUSA

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