Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Epifauna and thermal additions in the upper Patuxent River estuary

  • Published:
Chesapeake Science

Abstract

In the upper Patuxent Estuary environmental changes in temperature, salinity, and turbidity over a 5-year period are linked to changes in epifaunal production and species distribution. During 1967 a series of monthly panels showed dry weight production averaged 2.8 times greater in a steam electric station heated effluent than in the intake. A downriver shift in epifanual production in 1967 and changes in species abundance was noted and attributed to natural changes in salinity and turbidity and man-induced changes in temperature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Cadwalder, L. W. 1965. Power industrial waste-water control, C. F. Gurnham, editor. Academic Press, New York: 413–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, H. H. 1968. The distribution of excess temperature from a heated discharge in an estuary. Ches. Bay. Inst. Tech. Rept. 44. Ref. 68-14. The Johns Hopkins Univ.

  • Cory, R. L. 1967. Epifauna of the Patuxent River estuary, Maryland, for 1963 and 1964.Ches. Sci. 8: 71–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cory, R. L. and J. W. Nauman. 1967. Temperature and water quality conditions for the period July 1963 to December 1965, Patuxent River estuary, Maryland,U. S. Geol. Survey Open File Rep., Wash., D.C.: 17 p.

  • Cory, R. L. and J. W. Nauman. 1968. Temperature and water quality conditions of the Patuxent estuary, Maryland, January 1966 through December 1967.U. S. Geol. Survey Open File Rep., Wash. D.C.: 70 p.

  • Heinle, D. R. 1966. Production of a calanoid copepod,Acartia tonsa, in the Patuxent River estuary.Ches. Sci. 7: 59–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herman, S. S., J. A. Mihursky, andA. J. McErlean. 1968. Zooplankton and environmental characteristics of the Patuxent River estuary.Ches. Sci. 9: 67–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herry, S. 1959. Pollution of rivers by heated discharges.Bull. Cent. belge Etud. Docum. Eaux. 46: 226–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, V. S., and J. A. Mihursky. 1967. Bibliography on the effects of temperature in the aquatic environment.Univ. Md. Nat. Res. Inst. Cont. 326, May 1967. 89 p.

  • Markowski, S. 1959. The cooling water of power stations; a new factor in the environment of marine and freshwater invertebrates.J. Anim. Ecol. 28: 243–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • — 1960. Observations on the response of some benthic organisms to power station cooling water.J. of Anim. Ecol. 29(2): 349–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, E. W. 1958. Thermal pollution of streams.Ind. Engng. Chem. ind Edn. 50: 1–4, 87A.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nash, C. B. 1947. Environmental charateristics of a river estuary.Maryland Dept. Res. and Ed. 64: 147–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nash, C. B. 1947. Environmental characteristics of a river estuary.Maryland Dept. Res. and Ed. 64: 147–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stross, R. G., andJ. R. Stottlemyer. 1965. Primary production in the Patuxent River.Ches. Sci. 6: 125–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorson, G. 1957. Bottom communities. Chapt.17, Vol. 1, EcologyGeol. Soc. of America. 67: 461–535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Vliet, V. 1957. Effect of heated condenser discharge water upon aquatic life.Am. Soc. Mech. Engng. 57: 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warinner, J. E., andM. L. Brehmer. 1966. The effects of thermal effluents on marine organisms.Air and Wat. Pollut. Int. J. 10: 277–289.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U. S. Geological Survey, 20242, Washington, D. C.

    R. L. Cory & J. W. Nauman

Authors
  1. R. L. Cory
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. W. Nauman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Publication authorized by the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cory, R.L., Nauman, J.W. Epifauna and thermal additions in the upper Patuxent River estuary. Chesapeake Science 10, 210–217 (1969). https://doi.org/10.2307/1350457

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1350457

Keywords