Project Director

Schorr, Mark

Department Examiner

Gaudin, Tim; Switala, Kristin; Trimpey, Margaret; Van Horn, Gene

Department

Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Approximately 18 miles of the NCC system, Tennessee is polluted by acid mine drainage (AMD). The effects of AMD upon the North Chickamauga Creek (NCC) system were evaluated from water quality measurements, habitat assessments, and fish collections. Sampling surveys were conducted at three AMO-impacted (pH < 5.5) and two reference sites (pH> 6.2) in the NCC system. Stream fish were collected using backpack electroshockers and hoop nets. A total of seven species were collected at the reference sites, whereas three species were collected at the AMO-impacted sites. Fish abundance was significantly greater (P < 0.1) at the reference sites than at the AMO-impacted sites, regardless of the sampling technique. No fish were collected at one of the AMO-impacted streams where the pH was <5 and the concentration of dissolved aluminum was > 700 mg/L. Results of my study indicate that fish populations were affected more by low pH and high concentrations of dissolved aluminum than by other habitat alterations. These findings underscore the negative effects of AMD on stream fish assemblages and provide a benchmark for future mitigation projects

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Dr. Mark Schorr, my major advisor, for his help and support during this project. I would also like to thank Melissa Combs and Tom Tarpley for their help in the collection of the data. I am also grateful to Chris Coco and Rob Mottice from the Tennessee Aquarium for their assisstance in electroshocking. Finally, I would like to thank the funders of this project, the Tennessee Aquarium, Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Degree

B. S.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Science.

Date

4-1997

Subject

Acid mine drainage--Tennessee River Watershed; Acid pollution of rivers, lakes, etc.; Stream ecology; Fish populations--Effect of habitat modification on

Discipline

Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment

Document Type

Theses

Extent

vii, 57 leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Call Number

LB2369.5 .J464 1997

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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