The Thermal Effects of Coastal Nuclear Power Plant Thermal Discharge on Two Fish Species Based on the Probabilistic Frequency of Temperature Increment

Abstract

This study selected Trachinotus ovatus and Nibea albiflora as the focal subjects to investigate the impacts of probabilistic frequency of temperature increment through laboratory simulations that mimicked the seasonal water elevated temperature adjacent to two coastal nuclear power plants. This research was underpinned by the probabilistic analysis of temperature increase frequencies, aiming to evaluate the thermal tolerance of these species across different seasonal contexts. Results demonstrated that the T. ovatus did not exhibit mortality in the spring, autumn, and winter. Mortality in T. ovatus occurred only during the summer in temperature-duration probability experimental groups subjected to 8.5ºC above ambient temperature with exposure probabilities of 50%, 75%, and 100%. The average survival rates were (93.3±3.3) %, (93.3±5.1) %, and (86.7±2.9) % respectively. The N. albiflora experienced mortality in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, with the highest mortality rate in summer. Compared to N. albiflora, T. ovatus exhibited significantly higher thermal tolerance across all seasons. As the experimental temperature increased and the duration probability rose, the mortality rates of both fish species showed an upward trend. There was an interaction between elevated temperature and duration probability, with the duration of different elevated temperature amplitudes significantly impacting the fish’s survival rates.