Impacts of Species Introductions on the Health of Fish Communities Receiving Chronic Radionuclide Exposures

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the potential impacts of a northern pike introduction on the health of a fish community receiving chronic radionuclide exposure, primarily from 90Sr. Overall, although significant changes occurred in the community composition and the health of fish populations following the pike introduction, these were not linked to radionuclide dose to fishes. This finding was further supported by assessing the health of forage fishes, which did not significantly change in the pre- versus post-pike fish communities and were comparable in condition to forage fishes inhabiting lakes with background radionuclide levels. Application of such resilient species as ‘baseline organisms' can provide a useful tool in the routine monitoring of ecosystems affected by multiple stressors.