Influence of elevated temperature and acid mine drainage on mortality of the crayfish Cambarus bartonii

Journal of Freshwater Ecology
By: , and 

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Abstract

Effects of elevated temperature and acid mine drainage (AMD) on crayfish mortality were investigated in the Stony River, Grant County, West Virginia. During summers 2003 and 2004, four-week in situ bioassays were performed along a thermal and AMD gradient with the native crayfish Cambarus bartonii. Crayfish mortality was analyzed in conjunction with temperature and AMD related variables (pH, specific conductivity). Mortality was significantly higher (48–88%) at sites with high temperatures during 2003 (max = 33.0°C), but no significant differences were observed in 2004 (max = 32.0°C). Temperatures were higher in 2003 than 2004 due to increased discharge from a cooling reservoir flowing into the river. Additionally, duration of high temperature was approximately four days in 2003 as compared with only one day in 2004. No significant relationship between acid mine drainage variables and crayfish mortality was apparent.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Influence of elevated temperature and acid mine drainage on mortality of the crayfish Cambarus bartonii
Series title Journal of Freshwater Ecology
DOI 10.1080/02705060.2010.9664353
Volume 25
Issue 1
Year Published 2010
Language English
Publisher Taylor Francis
Description 12 p.
First page 19
Last page 30
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Grant County
Other Geospatial Stony River
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