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Using γ-emitting artificial radionuclides, released by nuclear plants, as markers of restricted movements by chub,Leuciscus cephalus, in a large river, the Lower Rhône

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On the basis that γ-emitting artificial radionuclides, present in nuclear plant radioactive wastes, can be considered as ‘natural’ collective markers of fish living downstream from a radioactive discharge, we studied the restricted movements of chub in a reservoir on the Lower Rhône river where the Marcoule nuclear plant is located. A qualitative determination, based on the detection of specific radioelements in our samples originating from radioactive waste, and a quantitative determination of the cesium-137 concentration in the samples, were used to identify fish radioactively marked by the effluent. Individual measurements of γ-radioactivity in 49 adult chub captured at two stations, each 2 km long and 6 km apart, divided the fish into two distinct sub-units: one living downstream of the discharge pipe, in which 73% were marked, and the other upstream, in which 79% were not marked. Similar results were found in two neighbouring stations when we analysed previous radioecological measurements of γ-radioactivity in groups of chub. After combining all the data concerning chub, detailed information was obtained on the spatial stability of the chub population in the reservoir. Two spatially different stocks were found and each stock can be divided in two components: a sedentary component that remains in a restricted zone (its home range), and a mobile component that undertakes movements between the two zones.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Systèmes Fluviaux, URA CNRS 1451, 1, rue Parmentier, 13200, Arles, France

    Yann Nicolas & Didier Pont

  2. IPSN-CEA, DPEI, SERE Laboratoire de Radioécologie des Eaux Continentales, CEN Cadarache, BP n° 1, 13108, St Paul-lès-Durance, France

    Alain Lambrechts

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  1. Yann Nicolas
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  2. Didier Pont
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  3. Alain Lambrechts
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Nicolas, Y., Pont, D. & Lambrechts, A. Using γ-emitting artificial radionuclides, released by nuclear plants, as markers of restricted movements by chub,Leuciscus cephalus, in a large river, the Lower Rhône. Environ Biol Fish 39, 399–409 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004809

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004809

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