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U.S. Department of Energy
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Analysis of populations of boring and fouling organisms in the vicinity of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station. Quarterly report, December 1, 1977--February 28, 1978

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6624190
The growth, distribution, and species composition of marine borers (primarily shipworms) and fouling organisms are being studied in the vicinity of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. Untreated wood test panels are used to collect organisms at 18 localities. Our most recent findings covering December 1977 to February 1978 are that two subtropical species of the borer family Teredinidae live in Oyster Creek; one species has spread to wooden structures outside of Oyster Creek. Shipworms living in Oyster Creek show advanced gonad development over specimens collected elsewhere, but no new shipworm larvae settled on wooden test structures during the winter of 1977--1978. Fouling organisms such as bryozoa and tunicates settled in Oyster Creek at higher numbers than at other stations during the winter months. Shipworm damage is highest at two control stations with high salinity and strong water currents. Shipworms still exist in Oyster Creek but at numbers lower than existed in 1974--1975. Forked River, especially the lower portions, contains shipworms.
Research Organization:
Lehigh Univ., Stone Harbor, NJ (USA). Wetlands Inst.
OSTI ID:
6624190
Report Number(s):
NUREG/CR-0223
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English