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Effects Of Acid Mine Drainage On Stream Fish Assemblages In The North Chickamauga Creek Watershed, Tennessee, Kristie J. Jenkins
Effects Of Acid Mine Drainage On Stream Fish Assemblages In The North Chickamauga Creek Watershed, Tennessee, Kristie J. Jenkins
Honors Theses
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 …
Acid Mine Drainage And Its Effects On Salamander Assemblages In Cumberland Plateau Streams Of The North Chickamauga Creek Watershed, Tennessee, Melissa Combs
Honors Theses
In Appalachia's coal mining regions, acid mine drainage (AMD) has contributed to the widespread degradation of stream ecosystems. Salamanders are common inhabitants of healthy headwater streams and because of their permeable skins are excellent indicators of ecosystem intergrity. Hence, we investigated the potential effects of AMD on the species richness and relative abundance of aquatic salamanders in selected stream reaches (sites) of the North Chickamauga Creek (NCC) system, Tennessee. Specimens were collected by kick-net sampling with a 500um mesh dip net and/or electroshocking at four AMD-impacted sites (pH< 5.6) and two reference sites pH> 6.2), May-July 1996. Species richness was similarly low at reference sites, 2 …