A1 Journal article (refereed)
Water quality assessment by in situ whitefish egg incubation (2021)

Karjalainen, A. K., Arola, H. E., Syrjänen, J. T., & Karjalainen, J. (2021). Water quality assessment by in situ whitefish egg incubation. Advances in Limnology, 66, 261-275. https://doi.org/10.1127/adv_limnol/2021/0078

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Karjalainen, Anna K.; Arola, Hanna E.; Syrjänen, Jukka T.; Karjalainen, Juha

Journal or series: Advances in Limnology

ISSN: 1612-166X

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 15/12/2021

Volume: 66

Pages range: 261-275

Publisher: Schweizerbart

Publication country: Germany

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1127/adv_limnol/2021/0078

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Abstract

Fertilized eggs of European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) were incubated during their natural incubation period from November to April in a boreal lake and six streams, all affected by 
multi-metal mining effluents since 2008. The freshwater lake was salt-stratified by the effluents. Water quality effects on the egg survival and applicability of the method for assessment of whitefish reproduction success in stressed aquatic environments were evaluated. In the lake, floating incubation devices were installed at two depths beneath the ice cover. Bottom-buried baskets with incubation cylinders were used in the streams. Combined effluent effects on egg survival were detectable using the methods. In the streams, the total instantaneous embryonic mortality rate (ZT) varied between 0.3–0.6, which corresponds to 29.3–44.3% total mortality. In the lake epilimnion and hypolimnion, ZT was 1.7 and 4.4 corresponding to 71.7% and 99.7% total mortality, respectively. With the floating incubation method under the ice cover, the effect of a lake halocline anomaly was detected. Water quality characteristics contributing to the high egg mortality in the lake were low oxygen concentration due to the ectogenic meromixis, and the effluent metals Al, Cu, Mn, Na and Ni. In the streams, despite low pH values and effluent peaks measured as high specific conductivity, whitefish eggs survived better than in the lake. Both applied incubation methods showed potential as bioindicators of sufficient water quality for fish reproduction success.

Keywords: lakes; rivers; water systems; water quality; water pollution; sewage; metals; effects (results); biological effects; environmental effects; fishes; mortality

Free keywords: fish; long-term incubation; mortality; multi-metal mining; lake; river

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1