Biological effects of anthropogenic salt-load on the aquatic Fauna: A synthesis of 17 years of biological survey on the rivers Werra and Weser

Abstract

The reduction and the smoothened amplitudes of the chloride concentrations since 2000 have resulted in a gradual positive development of the aquatic fauna in the River Werra. In the salinized section of the river increasing species numbers have been determined along the salinity gradient, which shows maximum chloride concentrations of about 2500 mg/l, maximum potash concentrations at approximately 200 mg/l, and magnesia concentrations peaked at 320 mg/l. As an immediate consequence of the reduction in salt concentration the immigration of various caddis fly species into the lower River Werra was observed. The Number of taxa per sample rose from 5 to more than 30 in the lower Werra region. Changes in species-richness could be seen more frequently in river sections where chloride concentrations fluctuated around 1500 mg/l.