Comparison of food habits of white perch (Morone americana) in the heated effluent canal of a steam electric station and in an adjacent river system

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Environ. Lett., v. 8, no. 4, pp. 315-323

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00139307509437441· OSTI ID:4094268

Moore, C J; Fuller, S L.H.; Burton, D T

Analysis of the stomach contents of 97 white perch, Morone americana, taken from the effluent canal of a steam electric station (S.E.S.) and 106 white perch from adjacent Patuxent River waters indicated similar food habits from September 1970 through August 1971. However, 35 percent of all white perch taken from the heated effluent canal contained small pieces of coal and cinders, whereas only 3 percent of the river specimens contained such items in their stomachs. Fly ash and coal dust are present on the bottom of the S.E.S. canal, whereas little such material, if any, can be found on the river bottom in the study area. This suggests the canal fish were actively feeding in the heated effluent and not simply moving into the canal after feeding in the river. No significant difference (P greater than 0.05) was found between the average wet weight stomach contents of the river and canal fish within the same month. (auth)

• Research Organization: Benedict Estuarine Research Lab., MD
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-33-020205
• OSTI ID: 4094268
• Journal Information: Environ. Lett., v. 8, no. 4, pp. 315-323, Journal Name: Environ. Lett., v. 8, no. 4, pp. 315-323; ISSN EVLTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*FISHES-- DIET
*SURFACE WATERS-- THERMAL POLLUTION
*THERMAL POLLUTION-- BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
*THERMAL POWER PLANTS-- THERMAL EFFLUENTS
560205* --Biomedical Sciences
Applied Studies--Thermal Effects--Vertebrates
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
N44630* --Environmental & Earth Sciences--Thermal Effluents-- Water