Long-term chemical and biological trends in Scottish streams and lochs

Abstract

Between 1975 and 1985 several catchments in Scotland were established as reference sites to determine short-term (hours, days, weeks) and long-term (years, decades) changes in major physical, chemical and biological variables. The initial selection criteria included catchment size, land-use and deposition loading. Changes in fish status of lochs were determined by systematic netting while quantitative estimates of fish populations were made at stream sites. Egg survival and year class distribution assisted interpretation. Historical changes in pH based on stratigraphical changes in diatom assemblages are compared with recent measured changes which have occurred during the past 20 years when SO2 emissions declined. Significant chemical and biological trends due to changes in pollutant loading are best detected in sensitive lochs which are unmanaged and with low organic content and acid neutralising capacity (ANC) close to zero. Significant trends are less apparent in lochs with managed (forested) catchments. Many stream sites also reveal long-term improvements in pH, sulphate (SO4) Alkalinity (Alk) etc, but the significance of these trends is much less because of the greater inherent chemical variability. Stream sites close to ANC=0 provide the most wide-ranging evidence of ecological change, ie, increase in Alk, decrease in SO4 and increase in numbers of juvenile salmonids. Measured chemical changes are compared with predicted estimates, based on critical load calculations and problems in interpretation are discussed.