The Effect of Episodic Stream Acidification on the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
Moore BC. 2015. The Effect of Episodic Stream Acidification on the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Appalachian State University
ABSTRACT: The Southern Appalachian Brook Trout is constantly undergoing changes in its environmental pH due to atmospheric acid deposition affecting the acid balance of its native streams. These constant changes make it very difficult for these animals to maintain a systemic pH homeostasis, although it is necessary for their survival. A variety of methods are used to achieve this, ranging from bicarbonate buffers, non-bicarbonate buffers, and ion transport mechanisms. The most efficient means of maintaining an acid-base balance is through the use of ion transport mechanisms, specifically H+-ATPase and NHE (Claiborne et al. 2002). We have identified H+-ATPase and NHE3 in the gills of the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout and quantified the expression of both mRNA and Protein expression in gill tissue. Furthermore we have proposed a explanation as to how this system functions in laboratory conditions, in that the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout utilizes the metabolically costly but functionally efficient H+-ATPase until the animal becomes low on energy at which time it switches to the more energy conserving but less functionally effective NHE3 to maintain homeostasis. This outcome was unexpected in experimentation and could lead to many further studies on the subject of pH and sodium balance linkage.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Moore, Benjamin
- Date of Issue
- 2015-08
- Publisher
- Appalachian State University
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- acid deposition, acidification, APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Beech Flats Prong, brook trout, environmental pH, gills, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM-01224, Road Prong, Salvelinus fontinalis, SER, Southeast Region, streams, Susan Edwards, thesis