ACID MINE

DRAINAGE
BIOLOGICAL
I. Affects Reproductive Patterns
of Organism
Streams affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) are
highly stressed ecosystems and occur worldwide.
These streams typically have low pH, high
concentrations of dissolved metals, and substrata
coated with metal hydroxide precipitates. This
combination of chemical and physical stressors
creates a challenging environment for aquatic biota.
AMD affects the structure and function of algal,
microbial, invertebrate, and fish communities.
II. Acute and Chronic Toxicity

■ Water contaminated by AMD, often containing elevated

concentrations of metals, can be toxic to aquatic organisms, leaving
receiving streams devoid of most living creatures
■ Receiving waters may have pH as low as 2.0 to 4.5,
levels toxic to most forms of aquatic life
■ Interactions of pH, calcium, and aluminum may be
important to understanding the overall effects on
fish survival and productivity. Several reports
indicate low pH conditions alter gill membranes or
change gill mucus resulting in death due to hypoxia
Picture of the freshwater snail—
Lymnaea stagnalis—used in the
laboratory exposure tests to
understand uranium uptake and
bioavailability.