@mastersthesis {4085,
	title = {Environmental Impacts to Stream Acidification and Brook Trout Populations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park},
	year = {2010},
	note = {Illustrations, Maps},
	month = {December},
	school = {University of Tennessee},
	type = {Dissertation},
	address = {Knoxville, TN},
	abstract = {<p>This research supports development of aquatic resource management strategies to address acid deposition in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GRSM) by 1) developing relationships between baseflow and stormflow chemical constituents and examining effects of elevation, area, geology, soil, and vegetation on stream chemistry; 2) evaluating physiological condition in brook trout in relation to changes in stream chemistry during stream acidification episodes, and 3) evaluating brook trout metrics with respect to stream chemistry, basin characteristics, and ecologically relevant hydrologic parameters. (1) Stream chemistry was monitored in eight GRSM streams considering basin area, site elevation, Anakeesta geology, soil, and vegetation. Following precipitation events, pH was significantly reduced and aluminum concentrations increased, while the concentration response of ANC, nitrate, sulfate, and base cations varied. Higher pH and ANC concentrations were observed in large and low-elevation streams. (2) Caged brook trout were exposed to two acid episodes during in situ bioassays conducted in three GRSM streams. Stream pH decreased (\&gt;0.7 pH units) and total dissolved aluminum increased (\&gt;0.175 mg/L) at all three sites during acid episodes. Whole-body sodium concentrations were significantly reduced (10-20\%) when preceding 24-h time weighted average pH values (4.88, 5.09, 4.87) and corresponding 24-h aluminum concentrations (210, 202, 202 [mu]g/L). Lower whole-body sodium concentrations were correlated with elevated proton and aluminum concentrations indicating physiological distress. (3) Water chemistry, hydrology and physical basin factors influenced brook trout distributions and densities in 16 collocated fish and water quality sampling sites (1990-2009). Higher concentrations of ANC, pH, sodium, and soil cation exchange capacity, and higher fall flows were associated with the presence of brook trout. Trout densities were higher in streams with higher concentrations of sodium, suggesting that sodium may ameliorate the effects of acid toxicity. These relationships provide useful information where GRSM managers can prioritize conservation and restoration efforts.</p>},
	keywords = {Acid rain, Bodies of water, Trout, Water pollution},
	url = {http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/899/},
	author = {Neff, Keil Jason}
}
@article {3191,
	title = {Characterizing Episodic Stream Acidity During Stormflows in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park},
	journal = {Water, Air, and Soil Pollution},
	volume = {196},
	year = {2009},
	pages = {3-18},
	keywords = {Acid rain, Little Pigeon River Watershed, Water pollution, Water quality},
	author = {Deyton, Edwin Bradley and Schwartz, John S and Robinson, R. Bruce and Neff, Keil Jason and Moore, Stephen E and Kulp, Matthew A}
}
@article {4485,
	title = {Cultural Survey Report: Acid Deposition Effects on Soil Chemistry in the Noland Divide Watershed, Great Smoky Mountains National Park},
	year = {2009},
	institution = {Great Smoky Mountains National Park},
	address = {Swain County, North Carolina.},
	keywords = {Acid rain, Noland Divide Watershed, Soil acidity, Soils},
	author = {Neff, Keil Jason}
}
@article {3637,
	title = {Physiological Stress in Native Southern Brook Trout During Episodic Stream Acidification in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park},
	journal = {Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology},
	volume = {57},
	year = {2009},
	month = {August},
	pages = {366-376},
	keywords = {Acid rain, Ecology, Fauna, Fishes, Pollution, Trout},
	url = {http://www.springerlink.com/content/503k016533v1454h/fulltext.pdf},
	author = {Neff, Keil Jason and Schwartz, John S and Henry, Theodore B and Robinson, R. Bruce and Moore, Stephen E and Kulp, Matthew A}
}
@mastersthesis {4084,
	title = {Physiological Stress in Native Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) During Episodic Acidification of Streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park},
	year = {2007},
	month = {August},
	school = {University of Tennessee},
	type = {Master of Science},
	address = {Knoxville, TN},
	abstract = {<p>Episodes of stream acidification are suspected to be the primary cause of the extirpation of native southern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from six headwater streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM). During periods of increased flow from storm events, stream pH can drop below 5.0 (minimum of 4.0) for 2-days or longer. To provide evidence that native brook trout are impacted by stream acidification, in situ bioassay experiments were conducted. Changes in stream water chemistry and brook trout physiology were determined during a 36-hour acidic episode at three remote headwater stream sites in the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River watershed. Conductivity, pH, turbidity, stage height and temperature were monitored continuously; and water samples were collected for laboratory analyses (metals, cations, anions, ANC). Native brook trout were put in cages at the three sites and fish were sampled before and after the acid storm event. Physiological stress in brook trout was assessed by measuring whole-body sodium in individual fish sampled before and after the stormflow, and evaluating whole-body sodium loss as a response to acid conditions. The pH decreased at all three sites during the acidic episode. Stream pH dropped to approximately 5.0 at two sites and 4.66 at the third site. Prior to the storm, there was no difference in the whole-body sodium concentrations in trout between the three sites. Following the storm event, in trout from the site that experienced the lowest pH, whole-body sodium levels were reduced significantly relative to a) the pre-storm condition and b) trout from the other sites. Results demonstrate that stream acidification can negatively affect native southern brook trout physiology in the GRSM under actual field conditions. Trout lose the ability to regulate critical blood ions, as exemplified by a loss of whole-body sodium, when stream pH was less than 5.0 for 20 hours. Loss of sodium is an important indication of physiological stress in fish exposed to acid waters. This observation supports the hypothesis that episodic acidification of streams could be limiting native brook trout from occupying headwater streams in the GRSM.</p>},
	keywords = {Bodies of water, Little Pigeon River Watershed, Trout, Water pollution},
	url = {http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/178/},
	author = {Neff, Keil Jason}
}
