Fish species distribution and water chemistry in Nova Scotia lakes

During the summers of 1981-1984, 19,714 fish (23 species) were netted in 234 Nova Scotian lakes. Surface and mid-depth water samples were also analyzed for major ions, metals, and DOC. Lakewater pH varied from 4.4 to 7.7, including eight lakes which produced no fish in standard 23-hr net sets. Fish data were partitioned into 6 pH groupings for analysis. Stepwise multiple regressions of fish species vs. H+, S04,A1, Fe, and Mn showed little predictive power. Productive lakes ranged up to 530 μg L−1 Al, 1680 pg L−1 Fe, and 836 μg L−1 Mn. Apart from pH, fish distribution and abundance showed no significant relationships with water chemistry data. We note, however, that the more acidic lakes had fewer species of fish.