Drowning Fish
Fish have long been adapted to living in water their entire lives. Did you know, however, that fish breathe oxygen just like we do? Using their gills, fish breathe tiny particles of oxygen dissolved in the water or in tiny air bubbles formed by splashing or running water. Georgia’s summers can be extremely dry and cause long-lasting droughts. The fish in Georgia’s rivers, streams, lakes and ponds are at serious risk when this happens. As ponds lose water, fish become more crowded, stressed and confined to a smaller volume of water. Additionally, evaporation can quickly reduce water quality and kill fish by concentrating ammonia, carbon dioxide and nitrates in the water. Lack of oxygen in water, however, is the biggest problem during droughts. Because warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen, soaring water temperatures can kill fish. Also, the lower water volume due to evaporation holds less total oxygen for fish to breathe.
Viewer Tip: If you have a pond, there are several solutions to help keep fish alive during droughts. The best solution is simply to refill the pond—not usually an option during droughts. Thinning out fish populations can also help. Artificially aerating the pond with a fountain, pump or bush hog helps provide more oxygen to fish. Do not fertilize the pond or stir up mud and organic matter—both ultimately cause bacteria to use up huge amounts of dissolved oxygen and make the problem worse.
Season: Summer
This information is provided by the Georgia Wildlife Federation. Learn more at www.gwf.org.
(Source: University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, http://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/service/library/index.php3?docID=192&docHistory%5B%5D=1)
