Impact of power-plant discharges on marine zooplankton: A review of thermal, mechanical and biocidal effects

Abstract

The relative importance of thermal, mechanical and biocidal stresses to marine zooplankton entrained in cooling waters from coastal power-plant operations is dependent on specific features of power-plant design and siting. Toxic effects of power-plant operations will vary with (1) the degree of mechanical stress induced by pumping velocities of cooling water; (2) the physical and chemical interaction of receiving and discharge waters; (3) the dosage of chlorine or other biocide added to cooling waters for fouling control; (4) the exposure time to stress conditions experienced during passage through condenser conduits and discharge canals~ and (5) the nature of receiving waters, affecting the production and availability of the various halogen toxicants formed upon chlorination of seawater. Because of these variables, the problem of entrainment-induced mortality of zooplankton and the resulting effects on secondary production in receiving waters is difficult to assess. A review of laboratory and field studies addressing these problems is presented and particular emphasis given to the synergistic effect of multiple stresses. 9 Biologische Anstalt Helgoland

Man-induced hydrological changes, metazooplankton communities and invasive species in the Berre Lagoon (Mediterranean Sea, France)

“…The functioning of these ecosystems is, therefore, strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities (Marcus, 2004). Coastal lagoons under the influence of large freshwater discharges from hydraulicdriven power plants are strongly impacted by mechanical, thermal and/or biocide effects (Capuzzo, 1980), which in turn, deeply modify benthic and pelagic ecosystems (Stora, 1983;Bernard et al, 2007;Rissik et al, 2009;Peirera et al, 2010). Colonization by eurythermal and/or euryhaline species, which can survive in these highly variable conditions, are also observed (Von Vaupel-Klein and Weber, 1975;Gaudy and Viñas, 1985), weakening the specific diversity and, consequently, trophic interactions.…”

Environmental control of mesozooplankton community structure in the Seine estuary (English Channel)

“…Environmental variables parameters and anthropogenic influences may stronger affect the distribution of estuarine zooplankton (Vecchionne, 1989). The relationship between distribution of copepods and environmental variables have been studied in several estuaries (Capuzzo, 1980;Castel, 1984;Soetaert and Rijswijk van, 1993) and salinity has been shown to be the most important parameter correlating with the distribution of zooplankton (Collins and Williams, 1981). An estuarine classification has been developed according to the Venice system (Mouny et al, 1996) with polyhaline zone (30.0 > surface salinity > 18.0) with marine copepods, mesohaline zone (18.0 > surface salinity > 5.0) with a dominance of the copepod of the genus Acartia (Mallin, 1991), and an oligohaline zone (5.0 > surface salinity) with maximal abundance of Eurytemora affınis (Soltampour-Gargari and Wellershaus, 1987;Busch and Brenning, 1992).…”

Long-term study of zooplankton in the estuarine system of Ribeira Bay, near a power plant (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

“…The use of estuarine water for cooling in power plants is common practice in many countries. The relative importance of thermal, mechanical, and biocidal stresses to marine zooplankton entrained in cooling waters from coastal powerplant operations is dependent on specific features of power-plant design and siting (Capuzzo, 1980). The rise of temperature in water of estuaries or bays around the site of discharge of their heated effluents is particularly critical .…”