METAL CONCENTRATION AND CALCIFICATION OF BONE OF WHITE SUCKER (CATOSTOMUS-COMMERSONI) IN RELATION TO LAKE PH

The concentrations of 17 elements were determined in the bone of white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) netted from 5 acid (pH range 4. 8 to 5. 8) and 2 circumneutral (pH equals 6. 2 and 6. 3) lakes in south-central Ontario. Only bone Ba and S concentrations in the 7 fish populations correlated significantly to lake pH. The occurrence of a reduced Ca:P ratio coincident with the highest concentrations of Mn, Zn and Ba in the bone of fish from the most acidified environment suggests that increased metal concentrations which occur in surface waters coincident with lake acidification may affect bone calcification.