Mortality, growth, swimming activity and gill morphology of brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis) and Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar) exposed to low pH with and without aluminum

Abstract

Measurements were made of mortality, growth, swimming activity, and gill morphology of young-of-the-year brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis) and Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar), exposed for 30 days to pH 5·6 ± 0·5 (mean ± 1 standard deviation) with and without addition of 107 ± 57 μg liter −1 exchangeable (labile monomeric) aluminum. The experiment was conducted in artificial stream channels adjacent to a natural stream and subject to daily and seasonal changes in temperature, light, and chemical conditions. There were no differences in survival or growth for brook trout in any treatment; Atlantic salmon survival and growth were significantly decreased in the acid + Al treatment. Scanning electron microscopy showed no damage to gills of either species in the acid treatments, but the acid + Al treatment caused slight swelling of brook trout gills near the filament tips and significant swelling and fusion of secondary lamellae of Atlantic salmon gills. The acid treatment increased swimming activity in brook trout, but both the acid and acid + Al treatments reduced activity in Atlantic salmon.