Long-term trends in limnological characteristics in the Aurora trout lakes, Sudbury, Canada

Abstract

Paleolimnological techniques were employed to document the limnological histories of the aurora trout lakes, located in the Sudbury region of Ontario. Two of these lakes are of special interest to fisheries managers, as they represent the only known native habitats of a rare strain of brook trout: the aurora trout. These lakes were limed as part of restoration efforts. Stratigraphic changes in diatom and chrysophyte assemblages from dated lake sediment cores indicate that all the lakes have been impacted by anthropogenic acidification, although the timing and the magnitude of acidification were different amongst the lakes. For example, Whirligig Lake was likely the most naturally acidic lake in the past, but it had further acidified since about 1960. This lake was limed in 1989 and then again in 1993. In Whitepine Lake, acidification started 1940; however, in the most recent sediments (∼1992), some recovery in lakewater acidity has occurred. In Little Whitepine Lake (a reference lake), acidification started earlier (∼1920) and the lakewater pH continued to decline until about 1990. This lake was limed in 1989. The chrysophyte paleoindicators suggest a recent recovery in this lake. The successful re-introduction of aurora trout in Whirligig and Whitepine lakes is undoubtedly related to the improved water quality through liming but, based on our paleolimnological indicators, the lakes' limnological characteristics (e.g. pH and metal concentrations) are still different from those present before atmospheric deposition of strong acids from the Sudbury smelters.