The effect of the seawater cooling system of a nuclear generating station on the growth of mussels in experimental populations |
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| Authors: | Jon Kastendiek Stephen C Schroeter John Dixon |
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| Institution: | Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90007, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | In order to determine the effects of the effluent of a nuclear generating station on the growth of mussels, replicate experimental populations of Mytilus edulis were suspended from buoys located various distances upcoast and downcoast from the outfall of the cooling system and from buoys in a control area 13 km downcoast. Experiments were conducted for periods of one, two, and four months when the plant was pumping heated effluent and for similar periods when the pumps were operating intermittently and the effluent was not heated. Significant positive linear trends of growth with distance from the outfall were observed during all experiments. In contrast, a significant relationship of growth relative to the origin of the array of stations at the control site was observed only once. These results demonstrate that the cooling system caused a decrease in the growth of mussels in the vicinity of the outfall, and that factors other than heat were responsible for this reduced growth. |
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