Stream bugs suggest pollution recovery in North York Moors

Surveying 16 stream catchments in the North York Moors National Park – historically one of the worst acid water pollution sites in the UK – researchers found a higher diversity of invertebrates than expected and faunas indicative of unpolluted waters. Previous water quality surveys have shown very acidic stream waters and high levels of toxins such as aluminium, especially in catchments that were forested after the Second World War. Little was previously known about how pollution might have affected invertebrates inhabiting these streams, which are the basis of the aquatic food chain. Surprising results Sam Jones, a graduate from the Department of Biology who conducted the sampling as part of his placement year at the National…

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