Zinc, Manganese, and Strontium in Opercula and Scales of Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) as Indicators of Lake Acidification

Abstract

Calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and strontium were analyzed in opercula and scales of 148 brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from three acidified and three nonacidified lakes in Laurentian Park north of Québec. In the acidified lakes, the content in manganese, zinc, and strontium is 1.6, 1.3, and 1.2 times higher than in the nonacidified lakes, whereas the concentrations in calcium and magnesium are not significantly different. A discriminant analysis correctly classifies more than 80% of all specimens. Furthermore, a cluster analysis based on zinc and magnesium concentrations in opercula is successful in grouping 73 and 78%, respectively, of fish from nonacidified and acidified lakes.