Strip Mine Ponds Research Articles

Dissolved Oxygen, Temperature, and Habitat Selection by Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) Tadpoles

The annual patterns of oxygen tension (PO2) and temperature are described for two humanmade ponds in Alabama-one exposed, shallow, and much longer than wide (Road Pond); and one protected, deeper, and circular (Strip Mine Pond). Both ponds supported large populations of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles. Windmixing produced complete water column overturn on several occasions throughout the year in the Road Pond but only incomplete turnover in the Strip Mine Pond and only then during the colder months. P02 in the Strip Mine Pond fell below the critical 02 tension (Pc) of the tadpoles during warmer months at depths of > 2 m; nevertheless the tadpoles favored depths near 2 m during the summer, reversing their winter tendency to move toward shore. Road Pond tadpoles also moved away from shore during the summer, but the P02 in this pond did not normally fall below the Pc of the tadpoles. Summer tadpoles acclimated to 25 C selected a mean temperature of 28.9 C in a temperature gradient; winter tadpoles acclimated to 10 C selected a mean of 20.0 C. Diurnal and annual shifts in the patterns of distribution of bullfrog tadpoles within our study ponds were most likely related to temperature patterns, not to aquatic predators. ULLFROGS (Rana catesbeiana) are widely

Influences of temperature and oxygen upon habitat selection by bullfrog tadpoles and three species of freshwater fishes in two Alabama strip mine ponds

We studied the annual distributions of dissolved oxygen, temperature, and four aquatic vertebrates in two relatively young ponds (Road Pond and Strip Mine Pond) formed by strip mining operations in Alabama. On the basis of the limnological data, Road Pond was classified as warm polymictic and Strip Mine Pond as warm monomictic. In Strip Mine Pond, the summertime distribution of fish (bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus) was clearly related to oxygen availability, with fish avoiding severely hypoxic or anoxic water found at depths >2 m. However, bullfrog tadpoles commonly occurred in water at depths ≥ 2 m, where the PO2 was at or below their critical O2 tension. Tadpoles occurring at these depths switched from facultative air-breathing to obligate air-breathing and may have been using these depths as a refugium. In Road Pond, fishes (fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, and golden shiners, Notemigonus crysoleucas) congregated during summertime in shallower waters. Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles preferred the deeper portions of Road Pond. The contrasting distributions of tadpoles in the two ponds are potentially explainable on the basis of predation pressure.

WATER CHEMISTRY OF NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS STRIP MINE AND LIVESTOCK WATER IMPOUNDMENTS1

ABSTRACTThe water from 34 strip mine and 9 livestock water impoundments on the Northern Great Plains was analyzed. In all areas the water was classified as slightly brackish or saline. The dominant ion sequence for the study ponds was Na>Ca>Mg>K and SO4HCO3CO3Cl, which differs from most freshwater by the transposition of Na and SO4. Even though mean concentrations of total filterable residue were consistently greater in strip mine ponds, statistically significant differences were not found at the p ≤ 0.05 level between strip ponds and livestock ponds. The macronutrients of nitrogen and phosphorus found in the ponds were neither limiting to primary productivity nor excessive for fresh water. Many ponds contain turbid water. Turbidity restricts light penetration and limits photosynthesis besides making the ponds visually unattractive. The source of water for the pond, whether surface runoff or groundwater, seems to have important bearing on turbidity. The most appropriate use of these strip mine ponds is for waterfowl, warm‐water fisheries, and other wildlife associated with prairie wetlands. However, even these uses are jeopardized by detrimental concentrations of trace elements in the water (Anderson and Hawkes, 1984).

TRACE ELEMENTS IN NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS STRIP MINE AND LIVESTOCK IMPOUNDMENT WATER1

ABSTRACT: The water from 32 strip mine water impoundments and nine livestock watering ponds in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming were analyzed for trace elements. Because of the high concentrations of trace elements in coal and bentonite clay, the possibility exists for these elements to dissolve or be suspended in the water. Strip mine ponds were not significantly higher in trace element concentrations compared to livestock ponds. All but one of the 41 ponds sampled contained elemental concentrations that would be detrimental for livestock use or aquatic life use. Cadmium and lead were the elements most frequently in excess of water quality crieria. Lead was found in the study ponds about 35 times the median concentration of North American rivers. Manganese concentrations were found to exceed iron in many ponds, which is unusual in natural waters. The potential for detrimental concentrations of trace elements in pond water must be evaluated when designing land use management plans for ponds intended to be used by livestock or aquatic life.

Comparative Limnology and Biota of Mine Spoils Ponds in Colorado

Physico-chemical and biotic parameters were investigated from June 1977 to May 1978 in coal strip-mine ponds in Colorado which differed in age and in the proportion of drain- age derived from the mine. There were no discernible effects of mine drainage on temperature, dissolved oxygen, hardness, pH, acidity, alkalinity, calcium, iron, orthophosphate, or the organic content of the substrate. In contrast to spoils ponds in eastern and midwestern states, acid mine drainage was not observed. Total dissolved solids, nitrate, and sulfate values were higher in the spoils ponds than in the control pond. Net zooplankton abundance was lowest in the youngest spoils pond, but the standing crop of benthos exhibited a progressive decrease from the youngest spoils pond to the control pond. Certain zooplanktonic and benthic species were rare or absent in the youngest spoils pond. Colonization phenomena (age and distance from a source of colonizers) are postulated as responsible, in part, for the faunal differences between ponds, although higher levels of nitrate, sulfate, and TDS in the spoils ponds may provide adverse conditions for certain species. If these data are typical of the western energy region, they suggest the potential for devel- opment of recreational lakes as a part of reclamation practices.

Benthos and zooplankton of coal strip mine ponds in the mountains of northwestern Colorado, U.S.A.

Zooplankton, benthos and associated physico-chemical conditions were sampled in coal strip-mine ponds in northwestern Colorado from June 1977 to May 1978. Two spoils ponds derived all of their drainage from the coal mine, but differed in age; one pond received only partial drainage from mine spoils; a control pond was located in an adjacent drainage basin. Acid mine drainage was not observed, although total dissolved solids (TDS), nitrate and sulfate values were higher in the spoils ponds than in the control pond. Net zooplankton were less abundant in the spoils ponds, although standing stock of benthos exhibited a progressive decrease from the youngest spoils pond to the control pond. Zooplankton and benthos species diversity values were lower in the ponds affected by mine drainage. Certain groups of zooplankters (Cladocera) and benthos (Trichoptera, Amphipoda, Hydracarina, and Sphaeriidae) were rare or absent in the youngest spoils pond. Percentage Similarity Coefficients indicate that colonization phenomena (age and distance from a source of colonizers) may be responsible, in part, for the faunal differences between ponds, since the higher levels of nitrate, sulfate, and TDS in the spoils ponds were generally within the tolerance range of aquatic organisms.

Heterothallism in Chlamydomonas acidophila Negoro isolated from acidic strip-mine ponds

Heterothallism in Chlamydomonas acidophila Negoro isolated from acidic strip-mine ponds

Limnological characteristics of strip mine ponds in northwestern Colorado, U. S. A.

Limnological characteristics of strip mine ponds in northwestern Colorado, U. S. A.

The Suitability of Strip-Mine Ponds for Producing Marketable Channel Catfish

The Suitability of Strip-Mine Ponds for Producing Marketable Channel Catfish

Rearing Trout in Raceways Supplied by Water from the Hypolimnion of a Strip-Mine Pond

Rearing Trout in Raceways Supplied by Water from the Hypolimnion of a Strip-Mine Pond

Ecology of Muskrats in Strip-Mine Ponds in Southern Illinois

This investigation was made to determine the suitability of strip-mine ponds as habitat for the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus); and to determine what, if any, changes in the biology of the muskrat were brought about in the transition from a natural habitat to an artificial one produced as a result of man's industrial activities. The ecology and biology of the muskrat were studied from November 1955 to May 1957 on a strip-mined area in southern Illinois.

The Morphology and Life Cycle of Solenophrya micraster Penard 1914*

Solenophrya micraster, originally collected from a strip mine pond in east‐central Illinois, was established in clone cultures. From these homogeneous populations, detailed studies on the morphology and life cycle of the species were made. On the basis of the morphology established by these studies and a review of the species assigned to the genus by previous workers, emended diagnoses of genus Solenophrya Claparède and Lachmann 1859 and Solenophrya micraster Penard 1914 are proposed.