Mortality of Brook Trout, Mottled Sculpins, and Slimy Sculpins during Acidic Episodes

摘要

Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis, mottled sculpins Cottus bairdi, and slimy sculpins Cottus cognatus occur in many Pennsylvania streams that have depressed pH and elevated aluminum concentrations during episodes of high stream discharge (acidic episodes). The authors performed 20-d in situ cage exposures with these species to determine their relative sensitivities to field conditions. They also exposed fish in the laboratory to synthetic soft water, without added Al, to elevate possible effects of Al on sodium flux rates and pH toxicity. Exposures were in five streams; two with high pH (