Abstract
BackgroundKalpakkam coastal area serves as fishing ground, influenced by anthropogenic effluents from its surrounding populations and backwaters.MethodsThe monthly abundance and distribution of zooplankton and some physico-chemical parameters were investigated in coastal waters near a nuclear power plant, Kalpakkam 2011. Zooplankton and surface water samples collected from three different locations (stations P1, P2 and P3) in the heated and non-heated parts of the coastal waters were analyzed using standard methods.ResultsAmong all plankton genera in the cooling water, zooplankton was observed most sensitive group to entrainment-induced stress. Thirty genera were identified over the period of the investigation. Zooplankton population followed a trend as P1 > P3 > P2. A clear monthly variation and slight differences among stations were observed in terms of the zooplankton genera. The investigations revealed that changes in zooplankton genera across water bodies could be associated with differing temperature.ConclusionOur results clearly demonstrate that heated water discharge from the Madras Atomic Power Station has a negligible effect on zooplankton population at engineered canal near Plutonium Recycle Project (station P2). There is no impact on zooplankton population due to thermal effluent discharge into the coastal area (stations P1 and P3). Hence, further investigation is required to estimate the impact zone at either side during different seasons.
Highlights
Water is a liquid compound and it covers 71% of the earth’s surface in form of rivers, lake, and seas and is useful for survival of man, animals, and plants (CIA– The World Fact book: Central intelligence agency 2008-2009)
Based on the present observation, the study has proved that Kalpakkam coastal waters are relatively unpolluted with rich zooplankton diversity and enough physicochemical status to support plankton population
The abundance of zooplankton in the coastal waters of Kalpakkam is influenced by three factors: water movements, fish predation, and heating by the power station
Summary
Water is a liquid compound and it covers 71% of the earth’s surface in form of rivers, lake, and seas and is useful for survival of man, animals, and plants (CIA– The World Fact book: Central intelligence agency 2008-2009). Zooplanktonic organisms are one of the most important components of aquatic systems, which is used in the conversion of plant protein into animal protein (Terbiyik Kurt and Polat 2015). They are used to construct the modern oceanic food webs and food source for larval fish and shrimp in natural water bodies (Damotharan et al 2010). The thermal effluents significantly impact the food chain, which reflects directly or indirectly in the distribution and abundance of marine organisms. Numerous studies in anthropogenic impact, thermal discharges from power plant in to coastal waters, climate change, and modifications in biodiversity and biogeography are reported (Tseng et al 2011). Kalpakkam coastal area serves as fishing ground, influenced by anthropogenic effluents from its surrounding populations and backwaters
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