Abstract
Periphyton diatom assemblages in the saline cooling water canal system of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station were investigated for a twelve month period from December 1975 to December 1976. Uniform substrate samplers were placed in the intake canal water and the heated discharge canal water. These remained for 30 days before recovery to allow representative periphyton assemblages to develop. The structure and composition of the diatom assemblages in the two canals were compared. Thermal responses of individual taxa were difficult to identify; however, when the structure of the assemblages in the two canals were compared the effects of the thermally elevated effluent can be seen. In general, the assemblages in the heated effluent had fewer species, lower diversity indices, and greater redundancy. A degree of difference measure was used to show the differences between the assemblages at the two sites. Also, evidence is presented that thermal stress above a critical temperature for short periods is detrimental to the structure of the assemblages.
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