摘要

Many aquatic ecosystems continue to show the impact of acidification. Two factors that have been put forward to explain retarded biological recovery from aquatic acidification: geology and land-use (specifically, coniferous afforestation). The present study tests the hypothesis that afforestation is more significant than underlying geology in limiting recovery. Six streams were sampled using a 2 x 3 design with two types of underlying geology and three levels of afforestation. Results provide evidence for substantial chemical recovery but limited and uneven biological recovery. Statistical analysis suggested that both afforestation and geology had significant impacts on biological indicators, but geology had a greater impact on the richness of acid sensitive species. These results are discussed in relation to competing theories on factors underlying differential and retarded biological recovery.

  • 出版日期2013

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