A study of the juvenile fish fauna associated with the cooling water of a steam electric generating station.

Date

1971

Authors

McCullough, M.M.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas A&M University

Abstract

The composition, seasonal abundance, and distribution of the juvenile fish faunae in the intake and discharge canals of the P.H. Robinson Generating Station, Bacliff, Texas, were examined from March 7, 1969, to March 26, 1970. Biological collections were made with plankton nets biweekly, at 15 stations in the canals and Amertap condenser tube cleaning system. Collections were taken at 12 other canal stations on a monthly basis. For comparative purposes, monthly samples were also taken at nearby Dickinson Bay and Bayou. Hydrographic observations, consisting of temperature, dissolved-oxygen content, salinity, and hydrogen-ion concentration (pH) were made in conjunction with biological sample. Water velocity was also determined (October-March). Juvenile fish were entrained in cooling water throughout the year. Similar juvenile fish faunae were found in both canals. Variations in population diversity and abundance occurred due to spawning time differences of the species involved. Brevoortia patronus Goode, Anchoa mitchilli (Valenciennes), Micropogon undulatus (Linnaeus), and Gobiosoma bosci (Lacepede) were found to be the dominant species in the two canals. Each was prominant at a different time of year. It was determined that most of the juvenile fish population caught in plankton nets was small enough to pass through the plant condenser tubes.

Description

169 p., Thesis

Keywords

composition, seasonal variations, distribution, juveniles, fish, plankton nets, sampling, Brevoortia patronus, anchoa mitchelli, Micropogon undulatus, Gobiosoma bosci, species diversity, cooling water

Citation