Use lime to reduce acidification in lakes

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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Effectiveness

0%
Certainty

10%
Harms

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Background information and definitions

Acid rain, caused by airborne pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, can acidify lakes and reduce the number of fish they hold. Adding lime (calcium and magnesium-rich minerals) to lakes can help reduce acidity.

Key messages

A before-and-after study from Sweden found no difference in osprey Pandion haliaetus productivity during a period of extensive liming of acidified lakes compared to two periods without liming.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A before-and-after study at three acidified lakes in southwest Sweden (Eriksson & Wallin 1994) found that the average number of large (over four week-old) osprey Pandion haliaetus nestlings produced in successful breeding attempts was not significantly different during a period of extensive liming of acidified lakes (1980–7), compared to either of two periods without liming (1961-71: 2.0 nestlings/successful breeding attempt; 1972-9: 2.0 nestlings/successful attempt; 1980-7: 1.9 nestlings/successful attempt).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Eriksson M.O.G. & Wallin K. (1994) Survival and breeding success of the osprey Pandion haliaetus in Sweden. Bird Conservation International, 4, 263-277.

Please cite as:

Williams, D.R., Child, M.F., Dicks, L.V., Ockendon, N., Pople, R.G., Showler, D.A., Walsh, J.C., zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Bird Conservation. Pages 137-281 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.