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Physiological Stress in Native Southern Brook Trout During Episodic Stream Acidification in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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Abstract

Episodic stream acidification from atmospheric deposition is suspected to detrimentally impact native southern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) headwater streams. To test the hypothesis that episodes of stream acidification cause physiological distress to native trout, caged fish at three sites were exposed to acid episodes during in situ bioassays conducted in June 2006 and March 2007. Stream pH decreased (>0.7 pH units) and total dissolved aluminum (AlTD) increased (>175 μg/L) at all three sites during acid episodes in both bioassays. Whole-body sodium concentrations were significantly reduced (10–20%) following the acid episodes, when preceding 24-h mean pH values of 4.88, 5.09, and 4.87 and corresponding 24-h time-weighted average AlTD concentrations of 210, 202, and 202 μg/L were observed. Lower whole-body sodium concentrations were correlated with elevated H+ and AlTD concentrations. Loss of sodium ions in native southern brook trout was consistent with physiological distress resulting from acid exposure reported in salmonids in other investigations. Further research is necessary to conclude whether acid episodes are responsible for extirpation of brook trout from headwater streams in the GRSM.

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Acknowledgements

Research funded through the University of Tennessee Natural Research Policy Center by the US Environmental Protection Agency agreement EM-83298901-1, but has not been subjected to the Agency’s review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency, and no official endorsement should be inferred. We thank E. Deyton for assistance in the field and laboratory, and with data management; the UTK CEE water quality lab for performing chemical analyses; and dozens of volunteers who assisted with intense fieldwork including the GRSM fisheries field crew, T. Smith, L. Neff, K. Jackson, D. Carter, and G. Zimmerman.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, 223 Perkins Hall, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA

    Keil J. Neff, John S. Schwartz & R. Bruce Robinson

  2. Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, 676 Dabney Hall, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA

    Theodore B. Henry

  3. Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, 274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA

    Theodore B. Henry

  4. School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, 401 Davy Building, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK

    Theodore B. Henry

  5. National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, USA

    Stephen E. Moore & Matt A. Kulp

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  1. Keil J. Neff
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Correspondence to Keil J. Neff.

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Neff, K.J., Schwartz, J.S., Henry, T.B. et al. Physiological Stress in Native Southern Brook Trout During Episodic Stream Acidification in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 57, 366–376 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-008-9269-4

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