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Increased Ammonium Concentrations in a Tidal Freshwater Stream during Residence of Migratory Clupeid Fishes
Author(s) -
Browder Richard G.,
Garman Greg C.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1994)123<0993:iaciat>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - fish migration , abundance (ecology) , streams , fishery , electrofishing , ammonia , ammonium , fish <actinopterygii> , biology , environmental science , ecology , chemistry , organic chemistry , computer network , biochemistry , computer science
This study was done to test the hypothesis that dense aggregations of spawning, anadromous clupeid fishes ( Alosa spp.) could substantially increase ammonium concentrations in Wards Creek, Virginia, a tidal freshwater stream in the mid‐Atlantic coastal plain. In 1992 and 1993, we measured total ammonia nitrogen concentrations in the stream during February–July, before, during, and after clupeid fish migration. Abundance of migrating fish was estimated by electrofishing. During the period of high clupeid abundance (catch greater than 20 fish/h) in 1992, stream total ammonia was significantly higher ( P < 0.01) than when clupeid fish were present in low abundance (catch 20 fish/h or fewer). A similar pattern was observed in 1993. In addition, total ammonia concentrations in both years were strongly and positively correlated ( r = 0.84) with migratory clupeid abundance. Our findings, although somewhat preliminary, suggest that anadromous clupeid fishes could substantially alter the chemical environment of Wards Creek, and we speculate that ammonia inputs may affect biotic interactions and nutrient dynamics in other similar streams.