Abundance, distribution and use of power plant effluents by manatees (Trichechus manatus) in Brevard county, Florida. Final report, Jan 1978-Feb 1980

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5545685

Shane, S H

Brevard County, on Florida's east coast, contains one of the largest concentrations of manatees remaining in Florida. This population was studied from January 1978 through February 1980 using aerial surveys, and boat and land observations. As many as 250 manatees were counted in the county in the spring of 1979. During the warm months most manatees were observed in the Banana River, but during the winter most manatees (up to 100) were found in the warm effluent zones of two power plants on the Indian River. Declining air and water temperatures were significantly correlated with increases in the number of manatees in the power plant effluents. Manatees rely heavily upon these power plants as winter refuges, and plant shut-downs could prove disastrous for these animals.

• Research Organization: National Fish and Wildlife Lab., Gainesville, FL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5545685
• Report Number(s): PB-81-147019
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200201 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Waste Management-- Thermal Effluents
520400* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Thermal Effluents Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ELECTRIC POWER
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FLORIDA
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
MAMMALS
MANATEES
NORTH AMERICA
POWER
POWER PLANTS
SOUTHEAST REGION
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
VERTEBRATES