Estuarine Acidification: Impacts on Aquatic Biota of Draining Acid Sulphate Soils

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8470.1995.tb00687.x
• Publication Date: 2008-03-25T13:26:09Z
• Authors: J. SAMMUT; M.D. MELVILLE; R.B. CALLINAN; G.C. FRASER
• Keywords: Soil acidification; Biota; Acid rain

Acid sulphate soils form when iron pyrite oxidises to sulphuric acid on atmospheric exposure, lowering soil pH below 4. In the Richmond River estuary, northern New South Wales, flood mitigation, drainage works and floodplain excavations have augmented formation by increasing availability for oxidation. These engineering facilitated transport of acidified water impeded recovery from tributary acidification. The increased frequency duration acidification are associated with elevated concentrations inorganic monomeric aluminium dissolved iron, major hydroxide precipitation, deleterious effects exposed aquatic biota habitat. Fish kills an outbreak epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) been recorded sites in estuary.