The “shenandoah national park: Fish in sensitive habitats” (SNP: FISH) project. An integrated assessment of fish community responses to stream acidification

The Shenandoah National Park: Fish in Sensitive Habitats (SNP:FISH) project is a response to declining pH and acid neutralizing capacity in Shenandoah National Park (SNP) streams. SNP receives more atmospheric sulfate than any other USA national park, and pH had decreased to the point where early negative effects on fish were expected. SNP provides the opportunity to study the early stages of acidification effects on fish. Three different classes of geological formations yield streams with low-ANC (0 Eq/L), intermediate-ANC (60–100 Eq/L) or high-ANC (150–200 Eq/L) waters in SNP. This allows a comparison of responses across a water quality gradient in a small geographic area receiving similar deposition. Both chronic and episodic acidification occur in SNP streams. Biological effects are apparent in fish species richness, population density, condition factor, age, size, and bioassay survival. A primary project objective was to provide the necessary data for development and testing models for forecasting changes in fish communities resulting from changes in stream chemistry. Monitored variables include several which are predictive of acidification effects on SNP fish communities.     

Biogeochemistry of aluminum in a forest catchment in the Czech Republic impacted by atmospheric inputs of strong acids

The Lysina catchment in the Czech Republic was studied to investigate the biogeochemical response of Al to high loadings of acidic deposition. The catchment supports Norway spruce plantations and is underlain by granite and podzolic soil. Atmospheric deposition to the site was characterized by high H⁺ and SO₄ ^2– fluxes in throughfall. The volume-weighted average concentration of total Al (Al_t) was 28 mol L^–1 in the O horizon soil solution. About 50% of Al_t in the O horizon was in the form of potentially-toxic inorganic monomeric Al (Al_i). In the E horizon, Al_t increased to 71 mol L^–1, and Al_i comprised 80% of Al_t. The concentration of Al_t (120 mol L^–1) and the fraction of Al_i (85%) increased in the lower mineral soil due to increases in Al_i and decreases in organic monomeric Al (Al_o). Shallow ground water was less acidic and had lower Al_t concentration (29 mol L^–1). The volume-weighted average concentration of Al_t was extremely high in stream water (60 mol L^–1) with Al_i accounting for about 60% of Al_t. The major species of Al_i in stream water were fluorocomplexes (Al-F) and aquo Al³⁺. Soil solutions in the root zone were undersaturated with respect to all Al-bearing mineral phases. However, stream water exhibited Al_i concentrations close to solubility with jurbanite. Acidic waters and elevated Al concentrations reflected the limited supply of basic cations on the soil exchange complex and slow weathering, which was unable to neutralize atmospheric inputs of strong acids.     

Disturbance effects on soil solution chemistry due to heating cable installation

Installation of heating cables for warming soil was used to evaluate the effect of disturbance on soil solution chemistry within a northern hardwood forest (Adirondack Mountains, New York). Differences in response among treatments suggested the importance of both the depth and timing of cable installation. There were increases (p>0.05) in many solutes within pilot study plots in which surrogate cable was installed at 15 cm depth. Most notably, mean nitrate concentrations for the 1st year following disturbance were 744 eq l^-1 at 15 cm depth compared to 7 eq l^-1 for the non-disturbed control. A comparison of pilot plots with 5 cm cable depth and an unheated soil-warming control plot with the same cable disturbance showed that the seasonality of soil disturbance may have a key role in response to disturbance. The soil solution response was diminished if installation occurred during the spring, a period of rapid uptake of nitrogen by vegetation. Mean nitrate concentrations were 176 eq l^-1 for 5-cm pilot plots (installed in fall 1991) versus 6 eq l^-1 for 5-cm, unheated soil-warming control plots (installed in spring 1992). Disturbance effects were attenuated over time and not generally apparent 1 year after installation.     

Acidic deposition,ecosystem processes,and nitrogen saturation in a high elevation Southern Appalachian watershed

High-elevation red spruce-Fraser fir forests in the Southern Appalachian mountains: 1) receive among the highest rates of atmospheric deposition measured in North America, 2) contain old-growth forests, 3) have shown declines in forest health, 4) have sustained high insect-caused fir mortality, and 5) contain poorly buffered soils and stream systems. High rates of nitrogen and sulphur deposition (1900 and 2200 Eq·ha^–1·yr^–1, respectively) are dominated by dry and cloud deposition processes. Large leaching fluxes of nitrate-nitrogen (100–1400 Eq·ha^–1·yr^–1) occur within the soil profile. We have expanded the study to the watershed scale with monitoring of: precipitation, throughfall, stream hydrology, and stream chemistry. Two streamlets drain the 17.4 ha Noland Divide Watershed (1676–1920m) located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A network of 50 20x20 m plots is being used to assess stand structure, biomass, and soil nutrient pools. Nitrate is the predominant anion in the streamlets (weighted concentrations: 47 and 54 eq·L^–1 NO₃ ^–; 31 and 43 eq·L^–1 SO₄ ^2–). Watershed nitrate export is extremely high (1000 Eq·ha^–1 yr^–1), facilitating significant base cation exports. Stream acid neutralizing capacity values are extremely low (–10 to 20 eq·L^–1) and episodic acidifications (pH declines of a full unit in days or weeks time) occur. Annual streamwater sulfate export is on the order of 770 Eq·ha^–1yr^–1 or about one-third of total annual inputs, indicating there is net watershed sulfate retention. The system is highly nitrogen saturated (Stage 2, Stoddard, 1994) and this condition promotes both chronic and episodic stream acidification.     

Bioaccumulation of selenium by floating aquatic plants

The degree to which floating aquatic plants concentrate Se in tissues was determined for four species grown in solutions containing various levels of Se. Results of this greenhouse study showed that all four plant species, Azolla caroliniana, Eichhornia crassipes, Salvinia rotundi folia, and Lemna minor absorbed Se quickly upon exposure to Se in water as concentrated as 2.5 g Se mL^–1, and attained maximum tissue concentrations within 1 to 2 weeks. Azolla absorbed Se to the highest tissue concentration (about 1000 g Se g^–1 dry matter) from the 2.5 g Se mL^–1 solution, followed by Salvinia (700 g Se g^–1), Lemna (500 g Se g^–1),and Eichhornia (300 g Se g^–1). Plant growth appeared unaffected by solution Se concentrations lower than about 1.25 g mL^–1. These results indicate potential for rapid Se movement from water into aquatic food chains, and for use of aquatic plants for Se removal in wastewater treatment systems.     

Selenium in Water,Sediment, Plants,Invertebrates, and Fish in the Blackfoot River Drainage

Nine stream sites in the Blackfoot River watershed in southeastern Idaho were sampled in September 2000 for water, surficial sediment, aquatic plants, aquatic invertebrates, and fish. Selenium was measured in these aquatic ecosystem components, and a hazard assessment was performed on the data. Water quality characteristics such as pH, hardness, and specific conductance were relatively uniform among the nine sites examined. Selenium was elevated in water, sediment, aquatic plants, aquatic invertebrates, and fish from several sites suggesting deposition in sediments and food web cycling through plants and invertebrates. Selenium was elevated to concentrations of concern in water at eight sites (>5 g/L), sediment at three sites (>2 g/g), aquatic plants at four sites (>4 g/g), aquatic invertebrates at five sites (>3 g/g), and fish at seven sites (>4 g/g in whole body). The hazard assessment of selenium in the aquatic environment suggested low hazard at Sheep Creek, moderate hazard at Trail Creek, upper Slug Creek, lower Slug Creek, and lower Blackfoot River, and high hazard at Angus Creek, upper East Mill Creek, lower East Mill Creek, and Dry Valley Creek. The results of this study are consistent with results of a previous investigation and indicate that selenium concentrations from the phosphate mining area of southeastern Idaho were sufficiently elevated in several ecosystem components to cause adverse effects to aquatic resources in the Blackfoot River watershed.     

Surface ozone concentrations and exposures during growing season at the Lithuanian rural site

The surface ozone (O₃) data show an increase by 2.6 % per year during the period 1982–1994 at the rural site of Lithuania. WHO (World Health Organization), UN-ECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe), CES (Commission of the European Communities) guideline values for the protection of vegetation from adverse effects are exceeded during the growing season at the Preila coastal station. Ozone exposures for different concentration threshold are estimated during daylight hours in April-September. These values above 60 g/m³ varied between 10 000 and 43 000 (g/m³) ·h, above 80 g/m³ — between 1700 and 15 000 (g/m³) ·h, above 100 g/m³ — between 130 and 3700 (g/m³) ·h during separate years. Maximum hourly ozone values were observed from 116 to 228 g/m³ during this period.     

The relationship between salmonid fish densities and critical ANC at exceeded and non-exceeded stream sites in Scotland

The critical load concept is now accepted throughout Europe as a means of estimating the sensitivity of key components of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems to atmospheric inputs of sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N). Current UK freshwater maps, based on steady-state water chemistry, are derived using a critical acid neutralising capacity (ANC_LIM) value of zero eql^–1, which is based on the probability of occurrence of salmonid fish in lakes. In practice most acidification damage to salmonid fish occurs in nursery streams at the emergence and first feeding stages. In general a clear relationship exists between salmon (Salmo salar L.) and trout (S. trutta L.) densities in Scottish streams and ANC values. However, differences between sites depend on which ANC value is used (eg maximum, minimum or mean). By contrast, when the exceedance of critical loads is compared with salmonid densities the relationship is less clear because many exceeded sites have good salmonid densities. Many of these latter sites are found in north-west Scotland where sea-salt inputs are high and ANC is usually greater than zero eql^–1, although diatom-based studies indicated slight acidification of these waters, with a point of change in diatom flora close to ANC=20 eql^–1. These false exceedances are probably due to preferential adsorption of acidic SO₄ deposition which results in an overestimate of exceedance values. All sites with a mean ANC 0 are fishless but some sites with negative minimum ANC values had normal salmonid densities. Consequently a mean ANC_LIM value of zero in the critical load equations for UK freshwaters appears to be too low to protect salmonid stocks. Values between 20–50 eql^–1 represent a more realistic range if prevention of long term damage to salmonid stocks is to be achieved.     

Mercury in the Aquatic Environment of the Village of Caimito at the Mojana Region,North of Colombia

During May–September 1999, several aquatic environmental samples were collected from the village of Caimito, in the San Jorge River basin area, state of Sucre (Colombia), and analyzed for total mercury (T-Hg). Mean T-Hg concentration in sediments from surrounded marshes was 0.155 ± 0.016 g Hg/g. Low Hg concentrations were found in the phytoplanktivorous fish species Prochilodus magdalenae (0.087 ± 0.01 g Hg/g), while four-fold greater concentrations were found in all the carnivorous species. In average, T-Hg concentrations for fish samples did not exceed the limit consumption level (0.5 g Hg/g). However, risk assessment based on the hazard index suggested that the consumption of 0.1 kg per day of carnivorous fish could increase the risk of mercury poisoning in local population.     

Factors affecting l-asparaginase activity in soils

Summary Studies on the distribution of l-asparaginase in soil profile samples revealed that its activity generally decreases with sample depth and is accompanied by a decrease in organic C content. Statistical analyses indicated that l-asparaginase activity was significantly correlated (^** P<0.01) with organic C (r=0.86^**) and total N (r=0.78^**) in the 26 surface soil samples examined. There was no significant relationship between l-asparaginase activity and the percentage of clay or sand. There was, however, a significant correlation between l-asparaginase activity and amidase (r=0.82^**) and urease (r=0.79^**) activities in the surface samples studied. The effects of 21 trace elements, 12 herbicides, 2 fungicides, and 2 insecticides on l-asparaginase activity in soils showed that most of the trace elements and pesticides, at the concentrations used, inhibited the reaction catalyzed by this enzyme. The degree of inhibition varied among soils. When the trace elements were compared, at the rate of 5 mol g^-1 soil, the average inhibition of l-asparaginase in three soils showed that Ag(I), Cd(II), Hg(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), and V(IV) were the most effective inhibitors (average inhibition 20%). The least effective inhibitors (average 10%) included Cu(I), Ba(II), Co(II), Sn(II), Zn(II), Al(III), Se(IV), As(V), and Mo(VI). Other trace elements that inhibited l-asparaginase activity in soils were Cu(II), Mn(II), As(III), B(III), Cr(III), Fe(III), Ti(IV), and W(VI). When the pesticides were compared, at the rate of 10 g active ingredient g^-1 soil, the average inhibition of l-asparaginase activity in three soils ranged from 4% with Merpan to 46% with Malaspray. Other pesticides that inhibited l-asparaginase activity in soils (average inhibition in parentheses) were Aatrex (17%), Alanap (21%), Amiben (18%), Banvel (12%), Bladex (24%), 2,4-D (17%), Dinitramine (19%), Eradicane (16%), Lasso (40%), Paraquat (33%), Sutan (39%), treflan (7%), Menesan (18%), and Diazinon (33%).     

Relation between sulphur concentrations in the Scots pine needles and the air in northernmost Europe

The SO₂ emissions from the Kola Peninsula in Arctic Russia (totalling around 600 Gg(SO₂) yr^–1 at the beginning of the 1990s) produce an atmospheric SO₂ concentration gradient to the northernmost Europe. This gradient covers the range from >50 g m^–3 in the vicinity of the sources to 1 g m^–3 in Finnish Lapland. In the present study, the measured sulphur concentrations in Scots pine needles were compared with the estimated distribution of atmospheric SO₂. The total sulphur concentrations in the needles ranged from 741 to 2017 mg kg^–1. Strongly elevated concentrations (> 1200 mg kg^–1) were found within 40 km from the smelters corresponding to an area where the annual mean atmospheric SO₂ concentration exceeded 10 g m^–3. The foliar sulphur concentrations (total, organic and inorganic) show a high correlation with the estimated mean SO₂ concentration distribution in the air. Consequently the foliar sulphur concentrations reflected the atmospheric sulphur load well. The data presented here show that uptake via stomata is an important deposition pathway also in the arctic conditions with a short growing season.     

Ionic composition of rainwater and atmospheric aerosols in Sardinia,southern Mediterranean

The ionic composition of 55 aerosol samples and 31 precipitation events collected in a coastal site in southern Sardinia (Capo Carbonara, 39°06 N; 09°31 E) were compared. The samples were collected during one year period (Oct'90/Oct'91) and showed high variability in composition according to meteorological conditions. Rain and soluble part of aerosol showed a strikingly similar ionic composition: most significant anions were chlorine and sulphate, and sodium is the principal cations, followed by magnesium and calcium. The acid events are associated with N-NW trajectories (anthropogenic influxes from N. Europe) with avg. pH=4.65, non sea salt (nss) Ca=60 eq/l and NO₃/_nssSO₄=0.6. Southern precipitations are influenced by Saharan dust alkaline effects, with avg. pH=6.75,_nssCa=271 eq/l and NO₃/_nssSO₄=0.4. Na/Cl ratio in rain is similar to sea water (0.87), whilst in aerosols there is a Cl loss (Na/Cl=1.10), probably due to reaction with nitric acid. Total fluxes of Ca, Mg, NO₃ and SO₄ were 104, 9, 64 and 113 g/cm², and wet deposition exceeded (65–90%) dry deposition. Scavenging ratios (SR) as defined by the equation:SR=[(Ci)rain/(Ci)air] ^*d, (d=1200g/m³) were calculated, using geometric means (Ci) of precipitation and aerosols collected concurrently during the period (a total of 23 samples). The SR values are Ca=3400, Cl=2400, Na, K, SO₄=1700, Mg=1000 and NO₃=750. These numbers could be useful to infer total fluxes by using simply rainwater ionic composition in Mediterranean semi-arid sites like Sardinia.     

Uptake and toxicity of copper and zinc for the African earthworm,Eudrilus eugeniae (Oligochaeta)

Growth rate change in earthworms is considered to be a suitable endpoint when determining sublethal effects. In this study we evaluated growth and maturation in the vermicomposting earthworm speciesEudrilus eugeniae as marker of sublethal toxicity of copper and zinc. We also compared routes of uptake. Apart from exposing worms experimentally for 73 days to contaminated food, a series of contact filter paper tests was also performed to determine LD₅₀ for copper and zinc. Both copper and zinc at sublethal concentrations affected growth and maturation in worms exposed to contaminated food. These worms had a copper content of 34.5 g g^–1 after 73 days and a zinc content of 184.9 g g^–1, showing a differential uptake. Copper was more toxic than zinc. Also in the contact test worms did take up more zinc than copper and the LD₅₀ (48 h) for copper was 0.011 mg cm^–2 and for zinc 0.066 mg cm^–2, which translated to body burdens of 6 g g^–1 for copper and 131 g g^–1 for zinc. Indications were that a regulatory mechanism existed for both metals. Both metals were taken up through the body wall at a relatively fast rate. This study indicated that the skin was the major route of metal uptake. This study also showed a poor relation between the two types of tests for purposes of evaluating lethality of zinc and copper.     

Al and Fe in PM 2.5 and PM 10 Suspended Particles in South-Central Florida: The Impact of the Long Range Transport of African Mineral Dust

Aluminum and iron were measured in daily samples collected at urban and rural sites near Ft. Myers, Florida, in 1995–1996 using a dichotomous sampler. Al and Fe concentrations were low during most of the year but they increased dramatically duringsummer when African dust was advected into Florida. The ratioof fine (less than 2.5 m diameter) to coarse (2.5–10 m) Al and Fe is relatively constant in African dust events with the fine accounting for a third to a half of the total. Also the mass ratio of Al-to-Fe is relatively constant at 1.8, a value similar to average crustal material. In contrast, in non-African dust the fine-to-coarse and Al-to-Fe ratios are extremely variable and generally much lower than those duringAfrican events when dust concentrations ranged up to 86 g m^-3. The timing and magnitude of the Ft. Myers dust peaks closely matched those measured concurrently in Miami, 200 km to the southeast. Large areas of the eastern United States are frequently impacted by African dust every summer. Although dustconcentrations can reach very high values it seems unlikely that African dust events alone will cause a violation of the Environmental Protection Agency's standards for PM 2.5 or PM 10. However, African dust in conjunction with emissions from local and regional sources could conceivably present a problemwith compliance. The probability of such an occurrence is heightened by the fact that dust concentrations are highest in the summer when pollution levels are often at a maximum in theeastern states.     

Application of the selective inhibition method to determine bacterial: fungal ratios in three beechwood soils rich in carbon — Optimization of inhibitor concentrations

Bacterial and fungal contributions to microbial respiration in three beechwood soils rich in C (two basalt soils and one limestone soil) were investigated by using streptomycin and cycloheximide to inhibit substrate-induced respiration after glucose (8000 g g^-1), N, and P addition to soil samples. The inhibitors were added as solutions (2000, 8000, and 16000 g g^-1) and the reduction in substrate-induced respiration after separate and combined inhibitor addition was measured in an automated electrolytic microrespirometer. Bacterial and fungal contributions to microbial respiration were calculated using the interval 6–10 h after inhibitor application. The microbial biomas was smaller in the two basalt soils (Oberhang and Mittelhang) than in the limestone soil (Unterhang). In the presence of both inhibitors, microbial respiration was inhibited by a maximum of 45, 45, and 25% in the two basalt soils and the limestone soil, respectively. Inhibition of microbial respiration was at a maximum at streptomycin and cycloheximide concentrations of 16000 g g^-1. The inhibitor additivity ratio approached 1.0 even at high inhibitor concentrations, indicating high inhibitor selectivity. Calculated prokaryote: eukaryote ratios indicated lower bacterial contributions to the microbial biomass in the Mettelhang (0.74) and Unterhang (0.73) than in the Oberhang (0.88) soil.     

Effect of heavy metals on growth and survival of Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid.

Summary The effects of Cd, Co, Ni and Zn on growth and survival of Macrophomina phaseolina were studied in vitro. Cd, Ni and Co at 500 g ml^–1 inhibited growth by 78.8%, 73.6% and 11.8%, respectively, after 4 days at 25 ± 1°C. The mycelial dry weight yield was enhanced by 2.1% at 100 g ml^–1 Zn. The population of the pathogen declined in soil amended separately with Cd, Co, Ni and Zn. Cd (4000 mg kg^–1) proved to be the most toxic, by completely inhibiting the survival of the pathogen in soil after 20 days.     

Condition factor and whole-body sodium concentrations in a freshwater fish: Evidence for acidification stress and possible ionoregulatory over-compensation

Condition factor, K, was measured for 1202 blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) from three streams in Shenandoah National Park (USA) of different acid neutralizing capacities (ANCs). K is a ratio of weight standardized to length; it is an indication of the health of the individuals in a population. R. atratulus condition factor in the low-ANC stream was found to be significantly lower (11%) than that of dace measured for fish from the intermediate- and high-ANC streams. This difference, according to the results of related investigations, is likely to be biologically significant. Whole-body sodium concentrations were measured as an additional test of sublethal stress in these streams. During summer base flow conditions, mean whole-body sodium concentrations of adult R. atratulus maintained in cages were found to be highest in the low-ANC stream and lowest in the high-ANC stream. The lower condition factor of dace in the low-ANC stream may be related to whole-body sodium concentration and ion regulation. Ion regulation in the low-ANC stream may be more metabolically costly because of chronic sublethal pH stress. R. atratulus may maintain high body Na⁺ concentrations in low ANC- and ionic strength waters in order to provide a buffer against large episodic pH depressions. The metabolic cost of this ionoregulatory over-compensation may necessitate the diversion of energy from somatic growth and explain the poorer condition of fish from such waters.     

Technetium-99 toxicity in phaseolus vulgaris: Ultrastructural evidence for metabolic disorders

The influence of light intensity on the effects of 10^–6 mol L^{–1 99}Tc on growth, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of bush bean plants was investigated. After germination and cotyledon excision, the plants were grown in a growth chamber either under low light (photosynthetic active radiation, PAR 144 E m^–2 s^–1) or higher light (PAR 307 E M^–2 s^–1) conditions. In plants grown under the higher light conditions, ⁹⁹Tc hardly affected CO₂-assimilation, dark respiration, pigment contents and growth. No toxicity symptoms were observed in these plants. Under low light conditions, ⁹⁹T c significantly decreased growth and the concentration of chlorophylls. Toxicity symptoms in the form of chlorosis and necrosis developed. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations revealed alterations of chloroplast ultrastructure comparable to those described for plants slightly affected by paraquat toxicity or by Mo-deficiency. Our results indicate that in the low light plants ⁹⁹Tc induces damage in chloroplasts by peroxidation of membrane lipids.     

Influence of beech litter fragmentation and glucose concentration on the microbial biomass in three different litter layers of a beechwood

In February 1993 samples of litter from three different litter layers (upper, intermediate, and lower) were taken from a beechwood growing on basalt soil. Using the substrate-induced respiration method, we investigated the influence of fragmentation and glucose concentration on the maximum initial respiratory response. Glucose concentrations ranged between 0 and 160000 g g^-1 dry weight. The initial respiratory response reached a maximum at 80000 g glucose g^-1 dry weight. The addition of higher concentrations of glucose resulted in negligible changes in respiration. Litter materials of four different size classes (intact leaves, fragmented <100 mm², <25 mm², and <5 mm²) were amended with 80000 g glucose g^-1 dry weight. Substrate-induced respiration was at a maximum in the size class <25 mm². The addition of glucose to intact litter did not result in microbial growth. It is concluded that C is not the primary limiting element for the microflora in litter layers of the study site. Fragmentation of beech litter enabled the microorganisms to grow. Presumably, nutrients that limited microbial growth in intact litter were mobilized by the fragmentation procedure and enabled microorganisms to grow in fragmented litter materials.     

Effect of drying and rewetting on mineralization and distribution of bacterial constituents in soil fractions

Summary Mineralization of ¹⁴C- and ¹⁵N-labelled whole bacteria, cytoplasm, and cell walls and their distribution in different soil fractions were studied during 211 days of incubation including two drying and rewetting cycles. With any of these three soil amendments, almost 60% of C derived from cellular constituents was released as CO₂, 15% was incorporated into the living microbial biomass and 25% was distributed into protected microbial metabolites or recalcitrant microbial products. The distribution of C and N derived from the amendments in the different soil fractions showed that constituents adsorbed on fine clay (<0.2 m were more rapidly decomposed than those adsorbed on silt (50-2 ) and coarse clay (2–0.2 ), indicating a faster organic matter turnover in fine clay than in silt and coarse clay. Although alternate soil drying and rewetting cycles did not significantly affect the mineralization of bacterial constituents, the cycles did have an important effect on the size and specific activities of newly formed microbial biomass. This suggests the presence of an active and a dormant fraction of soil biomass.