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Toxicity of Anakeesta Formation Leachates to Shovel-Nosed Salamander, Great Smoky Mountains National Park¹

ABSTRACT

Following reconstruction of U.S. Highway 441 in 1963 near New-found Gap, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, aquatic life was almost completely eliminated in stream areas immediately downstream from the construction site. In Beech Flats Prong, for example, aquatic life was virtually absent for approximately 8 km downstream from highway roadcut and fill areas. Salamander (Leurognathus marmoratus) mortality in this stream area was attributed to acidic heavy metal leachate formed through redox processes associated with pyritic content of the Anakeesta roadfill bedrock. To evaluate the lethality of simulated leachate, salamanders were subjected to 96-hour time-until-death acute toxicological assays under laboratory conditions. In this study, leachate components derived from Anakeesta rock thought to be contributing jointly to intoxication processes were elevated acidity and heavy metal concentrations.

Key Words: heavy metals • acid leachate • aquatic toxicology

¹ Contribution of Uplands Field Research Laboratory; supported in part by Aquatic Ecology Fund, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville,TN 38501.

² Research Biologist, Uplands Field Research Lab., Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN 37738; and Associate Professor, Environmental Biology Research Program and Dep. of Biology, Tennessee Technological University; respectively.

Received for publication January 24, 1981.