SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1985
STP33585S

The Effects of an Acidic River, Caused by Acidic Rain, on Weight Gain, Steroidogenesis, and Reproduction in the Atlantic Salmon ( )

Source

In 1981, wild male Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) captured in the low pH (pH 4.7) Westfield River, Nova Scotia, Canada, had lower plasma androgen levels at sexual maturity compared to levels in wild male salmon sampled in the nearby less acidic (pH 5.6) Medway River. In 1982, Atlantic salmon held in cages and fed daily in the Westfield River (pH range 5.1 to 5.3) during the last three months of their sexual maturation cycle gained less weight, produced smaller eggs, and had abnormal steroid hormone metabolism compared to similar fish held in the less acidic Medway River (pH range 5.4 to 6.1). The mortality of eggs taken and fertilized from salmon held in the Westfield River exceeded 90% while the mortality of eggs from the Medway River salmon was 59%.

Author Information

Freeman, HC
Fisheries and Environmental Sciences Division, Fisheries Research Branch, Scotia—Fundy Region, Halifax Fisheries Research Laboratory, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Sangalang, GB
Fisheries and Environmental Sciences Division, Fisheries Research Branch, Scotia—Fundy Region, Halifax Fisheries Research Laboratory, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Details
Developed by Committee: E47
Pages: 339–349
DOI: 10.1520/STP33585S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4952-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0437-2