Characteristics of the acidic environment of the Yuanyang Lake (Taiwan)

Yuanyang Lake is an acidic alpine lake located in northern Taiwan. The lake 's acidity displays-both spatial and temporal variations and is correlated with concentrations of organic and inorganic carbon, and with some cations in the lake water. The factors relating to such characteristics were studie d, with particular focus on acid precipitation and the role of biological c ommunities in the watershed. Twelve species of mosses and liverworts were c ollected from the watershed and used in an elution experiment. The results indicated that the pH of natural rain-water was significantly reduced follo wing contact with these epiphytes. The acidity of Yuanyang Lake may largely be a result of natural acid leaching from the vegetation, rather than acid ic precipitation.