Assessment of the biological impact of point source discharge employing Asiatic clams

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 39 - 51
• Main Authors: Foe, C, Knight, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-1987
• ISSN: 0090-4341

Asiatic clams (Corbicula fluminea) were transplanted in the thermal plume of a power plant for 6 months. Water temperature at station 1 (25-35C) was 7-13 degrees above that at the reference station (station 4), and almost all clams died within 60 days. Water temperature at station 2 was 0.5-2.0 degrees above the ambient river temperature, while temperatures at station 3 were similar to those at station 4. Juvenile mortality at site 2 was increased (p less than 0.05), but adult mortality was not. Adult and juvenile growth and condition index were also reduced at station 2 (p less than 0.05). These parameters were unaffected at station 3. Scope for growth (SFG), measured in juveniles 36-44 days after transplant, tended to decrease along the thermal gradient. SFG was positively correlated with shell and tissue growth, but not with condition index.