The Effects of an Acidic River, Caused by Acidic Rain, on Weight Gain, Steroidogenesis, and Reproduction in the Atlantic Salmon ( )
SourceIn 1981, wild male Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) captured in the low pH (pH 4.7) Westfield River, Nova Scotia, Canada, had lower plasma androgen levels at sexual maturity compared to levels in wild male salmon sampled in the nearby less acidic (pH 5.6) Medway River. In 1982, Atlantic salmon held in cages and fed daily in the Westfield River (pH range 5.1 to 5.3) during the last three months of their sexual maturation cycle gained less weight, produced smaller eggs, and had abnormal steroid hormone metabolism compared to similar fish held in the less acidic Medway River (pH range 5.4 to 6.1). The mortality of eggs taken and fertilized from salmon held in the Westfield River exceeded 90% while the mortality of eggs from the Medway River salmon was 59%.