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Preliminary status of the acadian whitefish,...
Journal article

Preliminary status of the acadian whitefish, coregonus canadensis, in Southern nova scotia

Abstract

The Acadian Whitefish (Coregonus canadensis) is a uniquely Canadian species found only in southern Nova Scotia. Anadromous populations have been recorded in the Tusket River and one of its tributaries, the Annis River. Freshwater populations without access to the sea are known from three lakes in the Petite Rivière watershed. In the fall of 1982. two specimens of Acadian Whitefish were collected in the Annis River and 23 were collected from the Petite Rivière watershed. The construction ofa hydro-electric power dam on the Tusket River, poaching, overfishing and the acidification oftheTusket and Annis Rivers (average pH's of about 4.7 and 5.0. respectively, in 1982) have contributed to the severe decline of anadromous populations. Acadian Whitefish in the Petite Rivière watershed, while apparently more numerous. may also eventually be threatened by acid precipitation The Acadian Whitefish is an endangered species requiring immediate attention in order to prevent its extinction. Endemique au Canada, le corégone d'Aeadie (Coregoous canarlens,s) est restreint 8 Ia Nouvelle-Ecosse méridionale. Des populations anadromes ont éte signalées dans Ia rivière Tusket et dans un de ses tribuiaires, Ia rivière Annis. Des populations dulcaquicoles confinées aux eaux intèrieures sont présenies danstrois lacs du hassin versant dela Petite-Rivière. A rautomne 1982, on a capture deux specimens dans Ia rivière Annis et 23 dans Ic bassin de Ia Petite-Rivière. Suite a Ia construction dun barrage hydro-électrique sur Ia riviCre Tusket, au braconnage, ala surpeehe eta I'aeidifieation des rivières Anniset Tusket(oU Ic pH moyen s'èlève respeetivement a environ 5.0 et 4,7), les populations anadromes ont ehuiè. Les populations du bassin versant de Ia Petite-Rivière, quoique apparemment plus nombreuses. sont aussi menacèes par les pluies aeides. Cette espèee est menancée d'extinetion et on doit porter une attention immediate afin d'en prèvenir Ia disparition.

Authors

Edge TA

Journal

Canadian Field Naturalist, Vol. 98, No. 1, pp. 86–90

Publication Date

December 1, 1984

ISSN

0008-3550

Labels

Fields of Research (FoR)

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