Interactions of Chlorine, Temperature Change (ΔT), and Exposure Time on Survival of Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) Eggs and Prolarvae

Abstract

Effects of total residual chlorine (TRC), change in temperature (ΔT), and exposure time were established for eggs and prolarvae of striped bass, Morone saxatilis, under test conditions designed to simulate entrainment by power plants. Prolarvae were found to be more sensitive than eggs under the same test conditions. In contrast to the predominant effect of TRC and exposure time on eggs, TRC and ΔT and exposure time were all found to be important in causing mortality of prolarvae. The study shows that in an evaluation of the potential effects of chlorinated power plant cooling waters to striped bass ichthyoplankton, a systematic study must be made of the interactions of TRC, ΔT, and exposure time. Key words: chlorine, total residual chlorine, temperature change, ΔT, exposure time, Morone saxatilis, fish eggs, fish larvae, predictive mortality model