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Storm debris and dead fish

Started by Guest_netmaker_* , Aug 27 2008 08:11 PM

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13 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_netmaker_*

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Posted 27 August 2008 - 08:11 PM

Question:

For decades now I've seen dead fish after each adn every major hurricane........always in the wooded area...especially in the Atchafalaya Basin
http://en.wikipedia....chafalaya_Basin

the water often turns a clear balck. WE always said it was tannic acid.

So what does kill off the fish after a major hurricane blows so much debris in the water?

nm

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#2 Guest_netmaker_*

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Posted 27 August 2008 - 08:12 PM

Question:

For decades now I've seen dead fish after each adn every major hurricane........always in the wooded area...especially in the Atchafalaya Basin
http://en.wikipedia....chafalaya_Basin

the water often turns a clear balck. WE always said it was tannic acid.

So what does kill off the fish after a major hurricane blows so much debris in the water?

nm

* It doesn't seem to happen as much in the saltwater marsh........

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#3 Guest_fundulus_*

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Posted 27 August 2008 - 09:07 PM

I would guess that many of the fish die from an episode of low oxygen, or hypoxia, in the water as the result of organic matter getting stirred up from the bottom and microbial processes consuming oxygen as the debris is chemically consumed. It's kind of an instant "dead zone" such as is found this time of year in the Gulf off of the mouth of the Mississippi. Enhanced nutrients=high microbial metabolism=oxygen consumption=dead fish (and probably inverts like crabs, too).

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#4 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 27 August 2008 - 11:35 PM

Yeah. That, plus getting blown into a tree.

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#5 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 28 August 2008 - 08:57 AM

What salinity can the fish that are dying tolerate? There is a lot of storm surge there, especially with the degraded marshes, and I'm wondering if salt is intruding far into the wooded area. The marshes depend on silt deposited from the Mississippi to maintain their elevation, but channelizing/levying the river prevents this and makes the whole area more prone to storm surge. There are man-made channels through the marsh as well, which also facilitate salt water moving in.

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#6 Guest_wegl2001_*

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Posted 28 August 2008 - 10:12 AM

I had a huge die off in my pond after Hurricane Ivan passed near my house a couple of years ago. I was so busy cleaning up the huge oak tree that fell on my parents house that I didn't get down to the pond for 4-5 days. I remember helping my dad plant this tree when I was about 4 years old. It is a small neighboorhood pond and the neighbors told me they had removed around 150 assorted sunfish, mostly bluegill. We had 4 trees down in the pond and all the leaves from the rest of them. There were several popcorn trees around the edge and their leaves were also in the pond. I contacted the local county agent and he agreed with Bruce's assessment. He also said that the popcorn leaves were "somewhat" toxic. He said the hurricane occuring in September, when the water was lower and oxygen depleted, added to the die off. This went on for about 2 weeks with fewer fish each day.

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#7 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 28 August 2008 - 10:46 PM

There were several popcorn trees around the edge and their leaves were also in the pond.

Hey, David - can you send me some cuttings? I can save some money at the supermarket by growing my own.

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#8 Guest_Mysteryman_*

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Posted 29 August 2008 - 03:42 AM

Be careful what you wish for, Irate. Popcorn trees are definitely a gift that keeps on giving. Just try to stop them.
My own yard is full of them, and they're in full seed. They should start popping any day now, I reckon.

I like 'em, but "invasive" only starts to describe them. Good grief, you never saw a right & proper tree grow and multiply so quickly. Did somebody crossbreed them with Kudzu at some point?
They are handy for creating shade zones in a really big hurry, though. My house is about 10 degrees cooler now from being surrounded by only two year old trees.

Those who don't understand this can look up "Chinese Tallow" which is their actual name, and maybe find a picture which makes "popcorn tree" make perfect sense.

Edited by Mysteryman, 29 August 2008 - 03:45 AM.

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#9 Guest_netmaker_*

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Posted 29 August 2008 - 05:37 AM

Well....

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#10 Guest_netmaker_*

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Posted 29 August 2008 - 05:38 AM

Well..........I just looked at the predictions www.stormpulse.com
and I'm going to have LOTS of dead trees by Tuesday.

I am just north of Vermillion Bay and Gustav looks like it will venture this way for sure.

Last time........RITA left millions of dead fish all over the Cameron Highway....just millions.......strung out over 50 miles of road bed.

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#11 Guest_wegl2001_*

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Posted 29 August 2008 - 08:35 AM

Hey, David - can you send me some cuttings? I can save some money at the supermarket by growing my own.

I guess I walked right into that one....

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#12 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 29 August 2008 - 11:18 PM

Pretty interesting tree - you can make candles out of it, fry food with it, make biodiesel with it, cure boils with it, make honey from it - will it also get rid of embarrassing facial hair?

Just follow these easy assembly instructions - and it's only a dollar!