Diatom paleolimnological evidence for lake acidification in the Trail Ridge region of Florida

As part of the PIRLA projects, diatom-pH transfer equations were used to infer past lakewater chemistries from dated sediment cores. Diatom inferred lakewater acidification appeared to show a strong subregional pattern within Florida. Five lakes were examined from in or near the Trail Ridge region (in the north-central peninsula) and all showed some evidence of recent acidification (>.20 pH units decrease) probably related to acidic deposition. Lakes hi the Panhandle region and the Ocala National Forest (south of Gainesville) did not show evidence of recent anthropogenic acidification, although few acidic clearwater lakes hi the Panhandle were examined. Paleolimnological studies have provided strong evidence for acidification due to acidic deposition in a small subset of lakes from various regions of the United States. This subset is defined geographically by different acidic deposition rates and bedrock types, and by the many limnological factors that contribute to lake pH and buffering capacity. Unfortunately, it is also defined by the small numbers of lakes that have so far been studied.     

Influence of pollution and acidification on metal concentrations in Finnish Lapland lake sediments

Fifteen Finnish Lapland lakes have been investigated to study pollution levels and possible acidification effects on nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and aluminium (Al) concentrations in sediments. Four lakes have average water pH lower than 6.0 and alkalinity lower than 0.050 meq/1. Contamination factor (C_f, ratio of metal concentrations in the uppermost to the deepest layers for a given lake sediment core) of Pb is high, particularly for acidic and acidifying lakes (C_f=5.2–10.4). Ni, Cu, Co, Zn and Cd concentrations increase insignificantly towards sediment surface of some lakes (with a neutral pH) with the rare exception. The influence of passible lake acidification consists of decreasing Cu, Cd, Al, Zn concentrations and organic material contents (loss on ignition) towards the sediment surface. The buffer capacity index (BCI), determined as the ratio of the sum of alkaline and alkaline-earth metals (K, Na, Ca, Mg) to Al, is lower for acidic lakes (from 0.12 to 0.36), whereas for the other lakes the BCI values are higher (from 0.42 to 1.34). Thus, BCI-values, decreased contents of Al, Cd, Zn and Cu, as well as organic matter contents (OMC in the upper lake sediment suggest acidification of freshwater environments.     

Diatom Inferred Acidity History Of 32 Lakes On The Kola Peninsula,Russia

The Kola Peninsula is characterised by vast environmental contrasts. Large areas are almost in pristine condition. However, mining and associated industrial activity generate one of the largest sources of heavy metal and sulphur emissions in the world and create `technogenic wastelands' around smelters. Due to the lack of monitoring data, insufficient knowledge is available regarding the acidification history of lakes on the peninsula. In this study, palaeolimnological techniques were used to reveal the pre-industrial pH status of 32 small lakes in order to evaluate the role of human impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Diatom-inferred pH reconstructions demonstrated that for 22 (68.75%) of the lakes, the pH was below 6.5 and in eight (25%) below 6.0 during the pre-industrial period; signs of recent acidification could be detected only in seven lakes of which five are located relatively close to current pollution sources. Furthermore, no substantial changes between the pre-industrial and modern species richness and composition were observed, indicating relatively stable environmental conditions. Most of the lakes seem to have undergone long-term acidification and are mainly affected by natural acidifying factors (e.g., vegetation, bedrock, climate, sea salt). The effect of anthropogenic emissions seems to be surprisingly geographically restricted and controlled mainly by the surrounding topography and prevailing winds. However, although many lakes seem to be in relatively pristine condition, only a significant reduction in heavy metal and sulphur emissions will prevent the lakes from acidifying in the future.     

Water acidification by air pollutants in the Federal Republic of Germany

In the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), airborne pollutants are leading to an increased rate of acidification of aquatic systems. In particular, the upper reaches of rivers and obligotrophic lakes in low-carbonate areas are affected. These areas are a minority of the total number of waterways, but are of great importance for environmental protection. Water acidification cannot be viewed as an isolated issue. In forested areas, it is associated with damage to the entire ecosystem. In lakes and streams, one of the most significant effects of water acidification is fish mortality; several bodies of water in which fish were once plentiful are now devoid of fish. With increasing acidification of the ground water, drinking-water supply problems may also be expected, All measures which can be taken to prevent the entry of pollutants into aquatic systems are preferred to those which merely treat the symptoms of acidified aquatic systems (e.g. addition of lime). The Federal Environmental Agency therefore considers the reduction of air pollutants to be the most effective solution to the problem of acidified of aquatic systems.     

Modern and paleolimnological evidence for accelerated leaching and metal accumulation in soils in New England,caused by atmospheric deposition

Empirical field evidence for changing chemical processes in soils caused by atmospheric deposition of pollutants consists of: (1) Long-term water quality data including total dissolved solids, concentrations of specific metals (e.g. Ca), and conductivity; (2) Cation exchange capacity and base saturation values for soils located on precipitation pH gradients; (3) Lysimeter studies; and (4) Chemical analysis of organic soils on precipitation pH and metal gradients. For well-drained organic soils, as precipitation pH decreases, metals are differentially leached at an accelerated rate (Mn>Ca>Mg≥Zn>Cd and Na>Al). Experimental field and laboratory lysimeter studies on soil columns yield similar results, with increases in leaching rates for soil solutions with pH=3 up to 100 × values for soil solutions with pH=5. Nearly 100% of the Pb from precipitation is accumulating in the organic soil layer or sediments. Zn is accumulating in soils and sediments where the pH's of precipitation, soil solutions, and surface waters are generally above 5 to 5.5. At lower pH values Zn and other chemically similar elements are desorbed/leached (net) at an accelerated rate. Chemical analyses of dated sediment cores from high and low altitude lakes, with drainage basins relatively undisturbed for the last 200+ yr, reveal that increased deposition of metals on a regional scale started in the northeastern United States as early as 1880, consistent with increased fossil fuel consumption. This suggests acidified precipitation as early as 1880. Cores from historically acidified lakes (pH<≈5.3 to 5.5) indicate that, as acidification of surface waters occurs (caused by acidic deposition), concentrations of Zn, Mn, and Ca decrease in the sediment. Apparently the metals are leached from the detritus prior to sedimentation. This conclusion results from data from experimental acidification of sediment cores and the general observation that precipitation pH is generally ≥0.5 pH units lower than lake water pH. Accelerated leaching of soil in New England dates to earlier than 1900.     

Regional monitoring of lake acidification in Finland

The primary objective of this monitoring is to detect long-term Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) induced changes in the water quality of small lakes, throughout Finland, with low conductivity. The monitored lakes (n=171, sampled every autumn since 1990 and in 1987) have a smaller watershed (usually headwater or seepage lakes), a larger lake/catchment ratio, and lower base cation concentrations, alkalinity and pH than Finnish lakes on average. The monitoring network provides background data for air pollution dose/response studies, critical load calculations and for the modelling of acidification scenarios. The declining sulphate deposition seems to be reflected in small headwater lakes all over southern and central Finland as a lowering of the sulphate concentration in the waters. Nitrate concentrations in these lakes have been typically low in the autumn. The base cation concentration is not generally declining, as it is in deposition in many areas. The sulphate concentration in lakes has declined more than base cations. Hydrologically, the recent years have been quite variable because of varying annual precipitation. The variation in alkalinity and pH in typical Finnish lakes is dependent on the content of humic material derived from catchments. The monitoring period is too short to reveal consistent trends in major ion chemistry. However, signs of improvement in recent years can be seen; in comparing 1993 to 1987, years with similar organic acidity and base cations, it seems that the sulphate decline in lakes monitored is compensated by a significant rise in both alkalinity and pH.     

Impact of acid precipitation on freshwater ecosystems in Norway

Extensive studies of precipitation chemistry during the last 20 yr have clearly shown that highly polluted precipitation falls over large areas of Scandinavia, and that this pollution is increasing in severity and geographical extent. Precipitation in southern Norway, Sweden, and Finland contains large amounts of H⁺, SO⁼ ₄, and NO^? ₃ ions, along with heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb, that originate as air pollutants in the highly industrialized areas of Great Britain and central Europe and are transported over long distances to Scandinavia, where they are deposited in precipitation and dry-fallout. In Norway the acidification of fresh waters and accompanying decline and disappearance of fish populations were first reported in the 1920s, and since then in Sørlandet (southernmost Norway) the salmon have been eliminated from several rivers and hundreds of lakes have lost their fisheries. Justifiably, acid precipitation has become Norway's number-one environmental problem, and in 1972 the government launched a major research project entitled ‘Acid precipitation — effects on forest and fish’, (the SNSF-project). Studies of freshwater ecosystems conducted by the SNSF-project include intensive research at 10 gauged watersheds and lake basins in critical acid-areas of southern Norway, extensive surveys of the geographical extent and severity of the problem over all of Norway, and field and laboratory experiments on the effect of acid waters on the growth and physiology of a variety of organisms. Large areas of western, southern, and eastern Norway have been adversely affected by acid precipitation. The pH of many lakes is below 5.0, and sulfate, rather than bicarbonate, is the major anion. Lakes in these areas are particularly vulnerable to acid precipitation because their watersheds are underlain by highly resistant bedrock with low Ca and Mg contents. Apart from the well-documented decline in fish populations, relatively little is known about the effects of acid precipitation on the biology of these aquatic ecosystems. Biological surveys indicate that low pH-values inhibit the decomposition of allochthonous organic matter, decrease the species number of phyto-and zooplankton and benthic invertebrates, and promote the growth of benthic mosses. Acid precipitation is affecting larger and larger areas of Norway. The source of the pollutants is industrial Europe, and the prognosis is a continued increase in fossil-fuel consumption. The short-term effects of the increasing acidity of freshwater ecosystems involve interference at every trophic level. The long-term impact may be quite drastic indeed.     

Kaolinitic paleosols in the south west of the Iberian Peninsula (Sierra Morena region, Spain). Paleoenvironmental implications

This paper studies the physical and chemical characteristics of eight different soil profiles with paleohorizons rich in kaolinites and developed on different lithologies along the southern border of the Hercinian Iberian peninsula (Sierra Morena region).The paleohorizons of four of these soils are defined by low pH levels, desaturation of the exchange complex and proportions of kaolinite of over 75%; these characteristics are associated with subtropical pedogenic conditions during the Pliocene period.A further two soil profiles are contemporary and defined by the following features: they occupy depression areas, the clay fraction is dominated by kaolinites and smectites, the exchange complex is saturated and the pH is above neutral values.The last two soil profiles are developed on Pliocene continental deposits and have more moderate pedogenic features, their kaolinite levels are around 50% and their evolution is associated with shorter periods of exposure to these subtropical alteration conditions.     

Controlled experimental acidification of lake sediments and resulting trace metal behavior

Severe stream water acidification occurs at higher altitudes (> 600 m a.s.l.) in the Western Harz mountains in Northern Germany. Since 1986 an interdisciplinary research team has followed the fate of pollutants in the 50 km² catchment of an important drinking water reservoir (Lake Söse). An acidification experiment has estimated the role of the remobilization of selected elements from the lake sediments via acidification. Aquaria were used to monitor the effects of a stepwise acidification (from the natural pH of 6.5 to 5.0, 4.0 and 3.0) of the water column over a reconstituted sediment layer. The sediment chemistry has been analyzed before and after the acidification by XRF. The water chemistry was sampled at time intervals and analyzed by ICP-MS. With a pH drop from 6.5 to 3.0, many elements increase in concentration in the water of the acidified basins. Enrichment factors were: Al (5000), Ba (10), Cd (220), Co (800), Cu (170), Ni (90), Pb (5000), and Zn (400). This corresponds fairly well with the field data. Al, Cd, Fe, Mn, and Pb exceed German drinking water limits at pH 4.0. The combined high concentrations (μg L^?1) of Al (1000–2600), Cd (2–4), Cu (4–7), Pb (30–60), and Zn (100–300) in the water column of the acidified streams are not only toxic for fish but also for many other aquatic organisms. Chemical changes in the sediment are not significant within the experimental setup.     

Fish responses to acidity in Québec lakes: A review

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.     

Metal concentration and calcification of bone of white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) in relation to lake pH

The concentrations of 17 elements were determined in the bone of white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) netted from 5 acid (pH range 4.8 to 5.8) and 2 circumneutral (pH=6.2 and 6.3) lakes in south-central Ontario. The bone Ca:P dry weight ratios were similar (2.0:1) for all fish populations except those of George Lake (pH=4.8) which showed a significantly lower Ca:P ratio (1.9:1, P < 0.05). Magnesium was also lower in the bone of these fish and in fish from 2 other acid lakes. Only bone Ba and S concentrations in the 7 fish populations correlated significantly to lake pH (R=?0.9 and R=?0.8, respectively, P < 0.05). Bone Mn concentrations correlated to dissolved lake Mn concentrations (R=0.8, P < 0.05), and was 7 fold greater in the bone of fish from George Lake and 2 fold greater in King Lake (pH=5.0) fish, vs fish from the 2 circumneutral lakes. Bone Zn was significantly greater in white sucker from George Lake, and tended to be higher in this species from King Lake, compared to all other fish populations. Bone concentrations of Fe, Cu, Ni and A1 showed no apparent trends among the 7 fish populations. Cd, Co, Cr, Mo, V and Be were not detected. The occurrence of a reduced Ca:P ratio coincident with the highest concentrations of Mn, Zn and Ba in the bone of fish from the most acidified environment suggests that increased metal concentrations which occur in surface waters coincident with lake acidification may affect bone calcification.     

Evidence of fish population responses to acidification in the Eastern United States

The hypothesis that acidification has reduced or eliminated fish populations in certain areas of the eastern United States was investigated by examining present and historical fishery survey records. The causes of acidification (e.g., atmospheric deposition) were not specifically considered, although instances of obvious alternative explanations (e.g., acid mine drainage, organic acids) were avoided. The number of usable data sets located was small. Trend analyses are severely limited by the lack of high quality historical data. The strongest evidence for fisheries declines associated with acidification is provided by data for the Adirondack Mountain region of New York. In some lakes, fish populations have declined or disappeared; lakes experiencing fishery declines are now acidic. Alternative explanations for changes in fish communities over time were examined. In 49 lakes, some or all fish populations have apparently been lost with no available explanation other than acidification. Extrapolation of these data to the entire Adirondack Mountain region suggests that perhaps 200 to 400 lakes may have lost fish populations as a result of acidification. Streams in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts also had documented declines in fish populations that were associated with acidity; however, the data are fewer and less complete than those for New York. Acidification effects on fishery resources in other regions of the eastern United States are apparently minimal. The extent of the damage to date appears small relative to the total resource.     

Assessing biological recovery of acid-sensitive lakes in Ontario,Canada

Information on breeding waterfowl, habitat and food chains, gathered from acid-sensitive lakes in Ontario, was used to develop a model of effects of acid deposition on waterfowl and their response to predicted sulphur dioxide (SO₂ emission reductions in eastern North America. The Waterfowl Acidification Response Modelling System (WARMS) is composed of an acidification model linked to fish and waterfowl models. WARMS uses pH, area, dissolved organic carbon, total phosphorus, and presence of fish to calculate estimates of pre-acidification, present and eventual steady-state values for pH, fish presence and waterfowl breeding parameters under proposed SO₂ emission scenarios. We used WARMS to estimate chemical and biotic responses to scenarios simulated in three regions of Ontario where biomonitoring studies are underway. For pH and fish presence, WARMS predicts the greatest improvements in the highly damaged Sudbury region, slight improvements in Algoma, and that the strongest proposed emission reductions will be required to maintain current conditions in Muskoka. For waterfowl, species-specific differences are evident among regions. We discuss implications of these assessments of biological recovery for watersheds in eastern Canada.     

The role of dissolved organic carbon in the chemistry and bioavailability of mercury in remote Adirondack lakes

A number of recent studies have documented elevated concentrations of mercury (Hg) in fish caught in remote lakes and a pattern of increased concentrations of Hg in fish tissue with decreasing water column pH. Because of the potential linkage between fish Hg and surface water acidification, factors regulating water column concentrations and bioavailability of Hg were investigated in Adirondack lakes through a field study and application of the Mercury Cycling Model (MCM). Concentrations of total Hg and total MeHg were highly variable, with concentrations of total MeHg about 10% of total Hg in lakes which did not show anoxic conditions. In lakes exhibiting anoxic conditions in the hypolimnion during summer stratification, concentrations of total MeHg were elevated. Concentrations of total Hg and total MeHg increased with decreasing pH in remote Adirondack lakes. However, more importantly, concentrations of total Hg and total MeHg increased with increasing concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and percent near-shore wetlands in the drainage basin. Mercury concentrations in muscle tissue of yellow perch from Adirondack lakes were elevated above the U.S. FDA action level (1 μg/g Hg) in 7% of the fish sampled or in one or more individual fish from 9 of the 16 lakes sampled. Fish Hg concentrations generally increased with increasing fish length, weight and age. Patterns of increasing Hg concentration with age likely reflect shifts in prey of yellow perch and the bioconcentration of Hg along the food chain. For age 3 to 5 perch, concentrations of Hg increased with increasing concentrations of DOC and percent near-shore wetlands in the drainage basin. However, for a lake with very high DOC concentrations, fish concentrations of Hg declined. Calculations with the MCM also show that concentrations of Hg species increase with increasing DOC due to complexation reactions. Increases in DOC result in increasing concentrations of Hg in biota but decreases in the bioconcentration factor of Hg in fish tissue. This research suggests that DOC is important in the transport of Hg to lake systems. High concentrations of DOC may complex MeHg, diminishing its bioavailability. At high concentrations of monomeric Al, the complexation of MeHg with DOC apparently decreases, enhancing the bioavailability of MeHg.     

A protocol for determining lake acidification pathways

The chemistry of 282 sampled low pH (<6.0) lakes in the U.S. E.P.A. Eastern Lake Survey (ELS) was evaluated in an attempt to assess why these systems have low pH. Evaluations were made using a decision protocol for classifying lakes according to several hypothesized acidifying mechanisms: acidic deposition, presence of wetlands and organic soils, acid mine drainage, watershed S sources, salt driven acidification, and changes in land use. The algorithm evaluates lakes in three steps: (1) initial exclusion criteria exclude from consideration lakes with pH greater than 6.0 or subject to strong confounding influences (e.g., road salt); (2) a general classification discriminates between lakes according to anion dominance; and (3) a secondary classification of lakes within each anion dominant class determines the most likely acidification pathway, using preliminary quantitative criteria designed to discriminate among competing hypotheses. Results computed for sampled lakes were scaled-up to produce regional population estimates, using the statistical framework of the ELS. Acidic deposition appears to be the most likely cause of low pH conditions in about two-thirds of the non-excluded lakes in the ELS low pH target population. Organic acidity arising from wetlands or land use changes appears to be primarily responsible for the low pH status of one quarter of these lakes. Watershed S sources and acid mine drainage appear to be of negligible importance, though further information on dry deposition rates and/or watershed soils is required to confirm this.     

The PIRLA project (paleoecological investigation of recent lake acidification): Preliminary results for the Adirondacks,New England,N. Great Lakes states,and N. Florida

The PIRLA project is an interdisciplinary paleoecological study designed to provide reconstructions of the recent acidification histories of a representative set of lakes in four acid-sensitive regions in North America. We are trying to determine if lakes in the study regions have acidified, and if so, to what extent, over what time period and why. Sediment cores from 5 to 15 lakes in each region are being analyzed for several characteristics. Diatoms and chrysophytes are being used to reconstruct lakewater pH. Results for three Adirondack lakes with current pH of 4.8 to 5.0 indicate a decrease in pH beginning in the 1930's–1950's. Increased atmospheric deposition of strong acids appears to be the primary factor responsible for the pH decline. Two lakes (pH 4.4 and 4.7) in New England show clear evidence of acidification probably due to acidic deposition. Preliminary reconstructions for two lakes in Michigan (pH 4.4 and 5.6), one in Wisconsin (pH 5.3), and one in Minnesota (pH 6.8) suggest no recent pH decrease. For, the one Florida lake (pH 4.4) analyzed, inferred pH decreases by about 0.5 unit, beginning in the 1950s; the cause has not been determined.     

The Impact of Acid Mine Drainage on the Water Quality of the Odiel River (Huelva, Spain): Evolution of Precipitate Mineralogy and Aqueous Geochemistry Along the Concepción-Tintillo Segment

The Odiel river emerges in Sierra de Aracena (N Huelva, Spain) as a clean, circumneutral river which shows abundant fish and fluvial microfauna. At 20km from the riverhead and along a 7km-long reach, this river receives four small discharges of acid mine water emanating from several abandoned mines of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (namely, Concepción, San Platón, Esperanza and La Poderosa-El Soldado). During two field studies performed in October 2003 and May 2004, it has been observed that these acidic waters (with flow rate of 0.2–8.5L/s and pH 2.3–2.8) transfer to the Odiel river significant amounts of acidity and dissolved metals (specially Fe, Al, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Co and Ni) and sulphate. Despite this mine-related pollution, the pH of the river remains near-neutral (pH = 7–8, flow rate = 220–1,000L/s), as the alkalinity of the river (108–155mg/L CaCO₃ eq.) neutralizes the acidity and causes the precipitation of dissolved Fe and Al in the form of ochreous to whitish minerals (ferrihydrite, Al-oxyhydroxides). These poorly crystallized minerals retain, by sorption, large amounts of trace metals (specially Cu and Zn). Subsequently, the Odiel river converges with the acidic Tintillo river (pH = 2.5–2.8, flow rate = 48–240L/s), which drains a vast mining area occupied by large waste-rock piles and tailings impoundments around Corta Atalaya (Riotinto mines). At this confluence, all the alkalinity is totally consumed and the pH drastically decreases to around 3. The mineral paragenesis of the ochreous precipitates is then dominated by schwertmannite, which shows a very limited sorption capacity under such acidic conditions. Consequently, metal concentrations are sharply increased from near-zero to tens of mg/L (e.g., 18mg/L Fe, 76mg/L Al, 14mg/L Mn, 10mg/L Cu, and 20mg/L Zn in May 2004). The buffering capacity of the Fe(III) hydrolysis stabilizes the pH of the Odiel river around 3± 0.5 along the rest of its course to the Huelva estuary, and the water quality of the river is thus irreversibly damaged.     

Biotic Effects in Planktonic Crustacean Communities in Acifified Swedish Forest Lakes after Liming

In Sweden, approximately 16 000 of a total of about 85 000 lakes have been acidified due to acidic deposition. Of these about 8000 have been treated with limestone powder in order to detoxify the acidified waters and protect sensitive fauna. The present study was performed in ten lakes in the southern part of the country. The lakes belong to four different catchments and were in different stages of acidification at the time of lime treatment. The composition of the zooplankton and fish communities also differed and three lakes were empty of fish at the beginning of the studies. Quantitative sampling of planktonic crustaceans was performed during the ice free season between 1976–87 in five of the lakes and between 1977–87 in the other five. After treatment the pH increased significantly in all lakes except one. The average number of crustacean taxa found per sampling occasion increased in all lakes. Increases were statistically significant in four of the lakes. In the lakes empty of fish, increased abundances of chaoborids inhibited, by predation, the increase of species richness. Species richness increased after the introduction of fish and the subsequent reduction of the chaoborids. At the end of the study, more taxa were found in the limed study lakes than in non-treated west coast lakes with an alkalinity of 0.04–0.10 meq L^-1. Most species normally occurring in oligotrophic forest lakes were found. It was shown that the water quality after liming made the occurrence of sensitive species possible and that predation from fish and interactions within the zooplankton assemblage were of great importance to the species composition and structure of the zooplankton community.     

Loss of Ca and NO3-N from terrestrial microcosms as an indicator of soil pollution

Ion separation of acid air pollutants out of snow causes sudden, deep pH-drops in lakes and running waters at an early stage of snowmelting. These pH-drops have drastic effects on fish populations and are suggested to be the main cause of Sphagnum invasion and changes in the microflora already at an early stage of acidification, i.e. when summer pH-values are about 6. These effects in turn reduce the nutrient recycling and accelerate the acidification process.     

Decreases in Condition and Fecundity of Freshwater Fishes in a Highly Polluted Reservoir

Despite many efforts for pollution abatement in aquatic ecosystems, there are still some cases of high accumulation of industrial pollutants due to past activities. In Flix reservoir (Ebro River, Spain), there are around 200,000–360,000 tons of industrial pollutants with a high concentration of heavy metals and organochlorides due to the activity of an organochlorine industry during more than half a century. This exceptional amount of pollutants provides a good opportunity (and need) to analyse their effects on fish populations under natural conditions, which is rarely available to ecotoxicologists. We compared the reproductive traits and prevalence of diseases and parasites at this impacted area with a neighbouring upstream reservoir unaffected by the pollution (reference sites) and also to downstream sites. Deformity, eroded fin, lesion and tumour (DELT) anomalies and ectoparasites were clearly more frequent at the impacted area for several fish species (common carp, roach and pumpkinseed). A significant negative impact of Flix reservoir on condition (eviscerated and liver weights, adjusted for fish size with analysis of covariance) and reproductive traits (gonadal weight and number of mature eggs, adjusted for fish size) was also detected for several fish species. The responses to the pollutants were species-specific, and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was the species with the clearest effects on fitness-related traits at the impacted area, despite also being among the most tolerant to pollution.