Effects of Thermal Pollution on Productivity and Stability of Estuarine Communities.

摘要

Research results on thermal effects on estuarine life are presented. Effects of temperature and bacterial-saline interactions on primary producers were studied. Studies showed that predicting the effect on primary production of a specific variable is unreliable unless other interrelated variables are also evaluated. Algae passing through the cooling system of an electric power generating station are influenced by heat,chlorination,and possibly mechanical trauma. Studies of copepod populations in the vicinity of a power station showed a constancy despite changes in rates of predation and temperature. A temperature bioassay of sixteen macroinvertebrates and fish showed their wide range of temperature tolerances. Rationale and method for predicting optimal temperature ranges from the median lethal temperature are presented.