The Role of Pollution and External Refugia in Structuring the Onondaga Lake Fish Community
Open accessAbstract
Historical accounts of Onondaga Lake dating to the 1600's indicate that the lake once supported a coldwater fishery. By the late 1800's, severe degradation of the lake and adjacent tributary environments was accompanied by declines in the American eel (Anguilla rostrata), and extirpation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and whitefish (Coregonus sp.). Nine faunal surveys were conducted from 1927 to 1994. We used rarefaction analyses to standardize survey results by computing expected species richness values (E(Sm)) relative to the 1946 gill net catch (7 species, m=164 individuals). Linear regression applied to the expected richness values (E (S164)) over time showed a significant increase in richness from 1946 (YEAR=0) to 1994 (YEAR=47) for fish caught in gill nets [E(S164) = 0.153*YEAR + 6.785, r2=0.79, P<0.005] and trap nets [E(S164) = 0.226*YEAR + 3.723, r2=0.89, P<0.01]. Although species richness has increased, almost half of the species captured since 1989 show no evidence of juvenile recruitment from within the lake. This result points to the role of immigration in maintaining lakewide diversity. The present community structure has developed from 1) species specific declines and extirpations, 2) invasion and establishment of pollution tolerant species, and 3) fishes interacting with refugia.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Most fish left Onondaga Lake in response to severe DO depletion during the 1991 event.
“Evidence for the exodus of most fish from the lake in response to severe DO depletion (seasonality in gill net collections, radio tagging results, and enclosure experiments) was developed during the 1991 event (Ringler et al. 1996, Tango and Ringler 1996).”
From Implications of redox processes for the rehabilitation of an urban lake, Onondaga Lake, New York (2008) · cites this paper as Tango and Ringler 1996
The Refugia Effects on Fish Community Structure section (p. 9) reports that tagged fish moved into the Seneca River as dissolved oxygen declined in 1991, and that several species disappeared from autumn net catches. It does not establish that most individual fish left the lake: gizzard shad and alewife remained despite lakewide hypoxia. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSimilar numbers of species were collected in the early to mid-1990s, with a high of 45 species in 1991.
“similar numbers of species were collected in the early to mid-1990s with a high of 45 species in 1991 (Tango and Ringler 1996).”
From Assessment of the Onondaga Lake, New York, fish community following reductions of nutrient inputs from a wastewater treatment plant (2015) · cites this paper as Tango and Ringler 1996
The discussion on p. 2 says annual surveys in the 1990s found 1.7–2.5 times an estimated 18 species, supporting a high of about 45 and broadly similar counts. The passages available from Table 2 (History, pp. 4–5) do not establish that 45 species were collected specifically in 1991. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe hypereutrophic condition of Onondaga Lake caused exodus of fish from the lake during the fall mixing interval of years of severe dissolved oxygen depletion.
“exodus of fish from the lake during the fall mixing interval of years of severe DO depletion ( e.g. , Tango and Ringler 1996)”
From Implications of redox processes for the rehabilitation of an urban lake, Onondaga Lake, New York (2008) · cites this paper as Tango and Ringler 1996
The Onondaga Lake fish community has changed dramatically since colonial times due to the combined influences of water quality and habitat degradation and invasion of nonindigenous species.
“The Onondaga Lake fish community has changed dramatically since colonial times due to the combined influences of water quality and habitat degradation and invasion of nonindigenous species.”
From Assessment of the Onondaga Lake, New York, fish community following reductions of nutrient inputs from a wastewater treatment plant (2015) · cites this paper as Tango and Ringler 1996
We are not able to compare the littoral zone electroshocking data directly to Tango and Ringler (1996) because the sampling method was different.
“Because the sampling method was different than that used in Tango and Ringler (1996), we are not able to compare this information directly to their study.”
From Assessment of the Onondaga Lake, New York, fish community following reductions of nutrient inputs from a wastewater treatment plant (2015) · cites this paper as Tango and Ringler (1996)
We did not directly compare gillnet expected species richness to the previous study based on rarefaction because the minimum catch from 1946 to 1996 was 164 and we were unable to obtain the raw data from Tango and Ringler (1996).
“Because the minimum catch from 1946 to 1996 was 164, and we were unable to obtain the raw data from Tango and Ringler (1996), we did not directly compare gillnet expected species richness to the previous study based on rarefaction.”
From Assessment of the Onondaga Lake, New York, fish community following reductions of nutrient inputs from a wastewater treatment plant (2015) · cites this paper as Tango and Ringler (1996)
Students at SUNY-ESF have continued the program of trap netting within Onondaga Lake, using methods similar to those used by Tango and Ringer (1996).
“Students at SUNY-ESF have continued the program of trap netting within Onondaga Lake, using methods similar to those used by Tango and Ringer (1996).”
From Assessment of the Onondaga Lake, New York, fish community following reductions of nutrient inputs from a wastewater treatment plant (2015) · cites this paper as Tango and Ringer (1996)
This pattern is consistent with the increasing trend documented by Tango and Ringler (1996), with a similar slope.
“This pattern is consistent with the increasing trend documented by Tango and Ringler (1996), with a similar slope of 0.226 (no SE provided) vs. 0.203 (SE = 0.035).”
From Assessment of the Onondaga Lake, New York, fish community following reductions of nutrient inputs from a wastewater treatment plant (2015) · cites this paper as Tango and Ringler (1996)
Historically, relatively few fish species were reported, with 10 in 1927, 12 in 1946, and 22 in 1980, coinciding with the degradation of the lake due to industrial and municipal waste discharges.
“Historically, relatively few fish species were reported, with 10 in 1927, 12 in 1946, and 22 in 1980(Tango and Ringler 1996), coinciding with the degradation of the lake due to industrial and municipal waste discharges.”
From Assessment of the Onondaga Lake, New York, fish community following reductions of nutrient inputs from a wastewater treatment plant (2015) · cites this paper as Tango and Ringler 1996
Onondaga Lake supported a coldwater fishery through the late 1800s.
“The lake supported a coldwater fishery through the late 1800s (Atlantic salmon and whitefish; Tango and Ringler 1996).”
From Assessment of Long-term Trends in the Oxygen Resources of a Recovering Urban Lake, Onondaga Lake, New York (2006) · cites this paper as Tango and Ringler 1996
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
No references could be resolved yet.
Research works printed but not linked: 27
- Arrigo, M. A. 1996. Reproduction and recruitment of fishes in a highly disturbed New York Lake. MS thesis, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY.
- Auer, M. T., et al. 1996. Biology. Chapter 6. In: Effler, S. W. (ed.). Onondaga Lake: lessons in limnology and engineering analysis of a polluted lake. Springer-Verlag, NY.
- Clinton, D. 1849. Private canal journal-1810. In: Cambell, W. W. (ed.). The life and writings ofDeWitt Clinton. Baker and Scribner, New York. P. 27-204.
- Dowdy, S. and S. Weardon. 1983. Statistics for research. John Wiley and Sons, NY.
- Effler, S. W., C. M. Brooksand K. A. Whitehead. 1996a. Domesticwaste inputs ofnitrogen and phosphorus to Onondaga Lake, and water quality implications. Lake and Reserv. Manage. 12(1):127-140.
- Effler, S. W. and R. D. Hennigan. 1996. Onondaga Lake, New York: legacy of pollution. Lake and Reserv. Manage. 12(1):1-13.
- Effler, S. W., M. G. Perkins, K A. Whitehead and E. A. Romanowicz. 1996b. Ionic inputs to Onondaga Lake: origins, character, and changes. Lake and Reserv. Manage. 12(1):15-23.
- Gandino, C. J. 1996. Community structure and population characteristics of fishes in a recovering New York lake. MS thesis, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY.
- Herbert, H. W. 1849. Frank Forester's fish and fishing in the United States and British provinces of North America. 1970 reprint. Arno Press. 455 p.
- Larkin, P. A. and T. G. Northcote. 1969. Fishes as indices of eutrophication. P. 257-273. In: Eutrophication: causes, consequences, correctives; proceedings of the International Symposium on Eutrophication (1967: Univ. Wisc.), Nat. Acad. Sci., Washington, DC.
- Madsen, J. D., et al. 1996. The aquatic macrophyte community of Onondaga Lake: field survey and plant growth bioassays of lake sediments. Lake and Reserv. Manage. 12(1):73-79.
- Makarewicz, J. C., B. Cady, T. Lewis, J. Buttner, and J. Hayness. 1995. Phytoplankton, zooplankton, macrobenthos, and ichthyoplankton abundance, biomass and species composition in Onondaga Lake, 1994. Report submitted to the Onondaga Lake Management Conference, Syracuse, NY.
- Magurran. A. E. 1988. Ecological diversity and its measurement. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ.
- Mason, C. F. 1991. Biology of freshwater pollution. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, NY.
- Millard, C.J. and N. H. Ringler. 1995. Evaluation ofhabitatsuitability indices as predictors of juvenile Atlantic salmon survivorship, growth, and production. (Abstract). 51st Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference, Ocean City, MD.
- Meyer, P. L. 1970. Introductoryprobabilityand statistical applications. Addison-Wesley Publ. Co., Inc., Reading, MA.
- Mills, E. L., J. L. Forney, M. D. Clady, and W. R. Schaffner. 1978. Oneida Lake. P. 367-451. In:J.A. Bloomfield (ed.). Lakes of New York State. Vol. II. Ecology of the lakes of western New York. Academic Press, NY.
- Mills, E. L.,J. L. Forney, and K J. Wagner. 1987. Fish predation and its cascading effect in the Oneida Lake food chain. P. 118-131. In: Kerfoot, W.C. and A. Sih (eds.). Predation: direct and indirect impacts on aquatic communities. Univ. Press New England, Hanover, NH.
- Murphy, C. B., Jr. 1978. Onondaga Lake. P. 224-365. In: J. A. Bloomfield (ed.). Lakes ofNew York State. Vol. II. Ecology of the lakes of western New York. Academic Press, NY.
- Murphy, M. H. 1992. Suitability of Nine Mile Creek, New York for restoration of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Master's Thesis, S.U.N.Y. College ofEnvironmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY. 86 p.
- Nemerow, N. L. 1964. Onondaga Lake - a lake that was. P. 22-29. In: D. F. Jackson (ed.). Some aquaticresources of Onondaga County. Onondaga Co. Dept. Publ. Works, Div. Parks and Conserv., Onondaga Co., NY.
- Petit, G. D. 1973. Effects of dissolved oxygen on survival and behaviour of selected fishes of western Lake Erie. Bull. Ohio Biol Surv. 4(4):1-76.
- Ringler, N. H., C. Gandino, P. Hirethota, R. Danahey, P. Tango, M. Arrigo, C. Morgan, C. Millard, M. Murphy, R. J. Sloan and S. W. Effler. 1996. Fish communities and habitats in Onondaga Lake, adjoining portions of the Seneca River, and lake tributaries. Chapter 6. In: S.W. Effler (ed.). Limnological and engineering analyses of a polluted urban lake. Prelude to the environmental management of Onondaga Lake, New York. Springer-Verlag, NY (in press).
- Rowell, H. C. 1996. Paleolimnology of Onondaga Lake: the history of anthropogenic impacts on water quality. Lake and Reserv. Manage. 12(1):35-45.
- Siegfried, C. A., N. A. Auer and S. W. Effler. 1996. Changes in the zooplankton of Onondaga Lake: causes and implications. Lake and Reserv. Manage. 12(1):59-71.
- Steel, R. G. D. and J. H. Torrie. 1960. Principles and procedures of statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc. New York, NY.
- Werner, R. G. 1980. Freshwater fishes of New York: a field guide. Syracuse Univ. Press, Syracuse, NY. 186 p.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Matthews, D. A., & Effler, S. W. (2006) · Lake and Reservoir Management · doi:10.1080/07438140609353881 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Matthews, D. A., Effler, S. W., Matthews, C. M. B., Siegfried, C. A., & Spada, M. E. (2001) · Water Environment Research · doi:10.2175/106143001x143439 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Implications of redox processes for the rehabilitation of an urban lake, Onondaga Lake, New York
Effler, S. W., & Matthews, D. A. (2008) · Lake and Reservoir Management · doi:10.1080/07438140809354056 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
A long-term record of epilimnetic phosphorus patterns in recovering Onondaga Lake, New York
Effler, S. W. O. (2010) · Fundamental and Applied Limnology · doi:10.1127/1863-9135/2010/0177-0001 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Effler, S. W., O'Donnell, S. M., Prestigiacomo, A. R., Matthews, D. A., & Auer, M. T. (2013) · Water Environment Research · doi:10.2175/106143012x13415215906690 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
An Upwelling Event at Onondaga Lake, NY: Characterization, Impact and Recurrence*
Effler, S. W., Wagner, B. A., O'Donnell, S. M., Matthews, D. A., O'Donnell, D. M., Gelda, R. K., Matthews, C. M., & Cowen, E. A. (2004) · Hydrobiologia · doi:10.1023/b:hydr.0000014040.88372.82 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Murphy, M. H., Gandino, C. J., Ringler, N. H., Kirby, L., Johnson, S., Smith, M., & Schroeder, S. (2015) · Lake and Reservoir Management · doi:10.1080/10402381.2015.1093569 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Tango, P. J., & Ringler, N. H.
- Affiliations
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (US)
- Venue
- Lake and Reservoir Management
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1996-03
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 81-90
- ISSN
- 0743-8141 (ISSN-L)
- 1040-2381
- 2151-5530
- OpenAlex
- W2092622593
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Lake and Reservoir Management (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Keywords
- Onondaga Lake, fish community structure, pollution, species richness, juvenile recruitment, Anguilla rostrata, Atlantic salmon, whitefish, invasive species, pollution-tolerant species, faunistics, lake degradation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
