Temporal variations in sediment sulfide levels under marine salmon farms in southwestern New Brunswick, Bay of Fundy, during the annual environmental monitoring period

摘要

Sediment sulfide levels were measured every week during September-October 2008 and every two weeks during August-October 2009 at two salmon farms and a reference site in southwestern New Brunswick. The reference site had low sulfide levels at all sample locations on all dates. Mean sulfide levels increased over time at both farms during September-October 2008 coincident with increasing fish biomass and feeding rates. During August-October 2009, mean sulfide levels initially increased and then decreased at both farms; during this time, fish biomass and feeding rates also decreased due to harvesting. There was considerable variation in sulfide levels among locations sampled at the same site on the same date, as well as between successive samples fromthe same location.