ML19351F440

Ecological Studies of WOOD-BORING Bivalves in the Vicinity of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.Progress Report,March-May 1980

ML19351F440
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	12/31/1980
From:	Crocket L, Hoagland K AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
To:	NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH (RES)
References
CON-FIN-A-0415, CON-FIN-A-415 NUREG-CR-1795, NUDOCS 8101130047
Download: ML19351F440 (41)

Text

.

I NUREG/CR-1795 RE Ecological Studies of Wood-Boring Bivalves in the Vicinity of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Progress Report March - May 1980 Manuscript Completed: October 1980 Date Published: December 1980 Prepared by K. E. Hoagland, L. Crocket Wetisnds institute Lehigh University Stone Harbor, NJ 08247 Prepared for Division of Safeguards, Fuel Cycle and Environmental Research Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research U.S. Nuclear ReOulatory Commission Wcchington, D.C. 20555 NRC FIN No. B5744 d

i i

g (DI lY

_ _ - _ _. ~ _ _ _.

i i

l ABSTRACT L

The species composition, distribution, and population dynamics of wood-boring bivalves 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 12 stations.

Physiological tolerances of 3 species are also under investigation in the laboratory. Relative destructiveness and competition among the species are being analyzed.

The native species Teredo navalis and i

Bankia gouldi coexist with the introduced ];. bartschi in Oyster Creek, i

at the mouth of Forked River and on the coast of the bay between the two creeks. Heavy mortality occurred in all species during winter and spring when the generating station was not operating. Very few ];.

bartschi were found alive in the spring panels; they were more affected than native species by the plant shutdown. Temperature and salinity tolerance tests begun during April and May, 1980, were not completed by the end of May because the adult shipworms proved to be very resistant to drastic changes in these physical parameters.

4 b

I iii I

l

i t

i

)

I l.

SUMMARY

OF FINDINGS The purpose of this investigation is to understand the population j

dynamics and competitive interactions of shipworms in the vicinity of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) and at control stations outside the influence of the station. The relative importance of the introduced species Tcredo bartschi in causing damage, and

{

physiological tolerances of all species, are being assessed. On a monthly ba sis, wood panels are added and removed for analysis of popu-4 lation dynamics and to obtain live animals for the lab studies. We also record temperature, salinity, and we estimate siltation levels j

at each station.

Our major findings are:

1. The OCNGS was not operating during the entire period of this report, and had been off since Janyary 5, 1980.

This caused a dramatic drop 4

l in shipworm infestation.

I

2. Water temperatures were often above ambient at Stout's Creek.

Temperatures were slightly higher in the southern part of th.' study area during March and April.

3. No shipworm larvae settled on monthly panels removed in March-May, 1980.

l

4. Teredo bartschi was found alive only in Oyster Creek and at Bayside-Beach Club. Winter-spring mortality was high for all species, but was highest for T. bartschi.

I S. Larvae were found in the gills of T. navalis only in May, 1980.

l

6. The greatest-number of living shipworms occurred at Holly. Park, Waretown, and Bayside Beach Club near the mouth of Forked River.

But because of past destruction, the greatest amount of wood loss i

occurred in Oyster Creek.

f 3 -

7. The largest living specimens in the cumulative panels consistently occurred at Station 4 in Forked River. Stations 1 and 14 had the largest living specimens taken from the yaarly panels, but most individuals in the panels from Oyster Creek and Forked River were dead.

l 4

iv i

wr-e-

-<,,,-v

,-rp r,

.g

TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT iii

SUMMARY

OF FINDINGS iv LIST OF TABLES Vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii PREVIOUS REPORTS viii INTRODUCTION 1

METHODS 2

RESULiS AND DISCUSSION 4

PHYSICAL DATA 4

SHIPWORM POPULATIONS 11 CONCLUSION 24 REFERENCES 25 APPENDIX.

STATION LOCALITIES 27 DISTRIBUTION LIST 29 l

V l

i

--__-_------__---,-------------,a-

LIST OF TABLES

1. Temperature Profiles in 'C, March 7 - May 3, 1980 5

2. Continuous Temperature Recorder Data ( *C) for March 7 - June 6, 6

1980

3. Salinity Profiles in */.., March 7 - May 3, 1980 8

4. Continuously Recording Salinometer Data, March 7 - June 7, 1980, 9

in */..

5. Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Circulation and Dilution 10 6

Flow in gal. x10 for March 1 - May 31, 1980

6. Numbers of Living Shipworms in Cumulative Panels Submerged May 5, 12 1979

7. Numbers of Living Shipworms plus Empty Tubes, Cumulative Panels 13 Submerged May 5, 1979

8. Percentage of Specimens Alive when Collected, Cumulative Panels 14

9. Length Ranges of Living Shipworms, in mm, Cumulative Panels 15

10. Numbers of Living Shipworms in Yearly Panels 16

11. Numbers of Living Shipworms plus Empty Tubes, Yearly Panels 17

12. Percentage of Specimens that were Alive when Collected, Yearly 18 Panels

13. Length Ranges of Living Shipworms, in mm, Yearly Panels 19

14. Percentage of Wood Weight Lost by Cumulative Panels Submerged 21 May 5, 1979

15. Percentage of Wood Weight Lost by Yearly Panels 22

16. Teredo navalis with Larvae in the Gills 23 vi

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank the raany residents of Oyster Creek who have cooperated in our field work.

James Selman, Jane galbeisen, and Kenneth Pidcock provided technical assistance.

Eugenia Bohlke of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia served as X-ray technologist. Virginia 0hori of J.C.P. & L. provided data on the operation of the Generating Station.

vil

1 PREVIOUS REPORTS Twelve reports have been prepared under Contract AT(49-24)-0347 during three years of funding from the U. S. Nuc1 car Regulatory Commission, 1976-1979, under the title:

l i

Analysis of Populations of boring and fouling organisms in the vicinity of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station with discussion of relevant physical parameters.

Those reports with NTIS numbers are:

NUREG/CR-0223 Dec. 1, 1977-Feb. 28, 1978 NUREG/CR-0380 Mar. 1, 1978-May 31, 1978 NUREG/CR-0634 Sept. 1, 1977-Aug. 31, 1978 NUR EG/CR-0812 Sept. 1, 1978-Nov. 30, 1978 NUREG/CR-0896 Dec. 1, 1978-Feb. 28, 1979 NUREG/CR-1015 Mar. 1, 1979-May 31, 1979 NUREG/CR-1209 June 1, 1979-Aug. 31, 1979 One report has been published in this current series:

4 Ecological studies of wood-boring bivalves in the vicinity of the Oyster Creek Nucicar Cencrating Station, Sept. 1, 1979-Feb. 28, 1980.

NTIS # NUREG/CR-1517.

65 pp.

ls viii

ECOLOGICAL STUDIES OF WOOD-BORING BIVALVES IN THE VICINITY OF THE OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION March 1 - May 31, 1980 INTRODUCTION Previous studies have shown a direct causal relationship between the effluent of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station and the proliferation of shipworms (Teredinidae) in Oyster Creek and adjacent portions of Barnegat Bay, New Jersey (Turner,1974; Hoagland et al, 1977; Hoagland et al, 1978; Hoagland and Crocket, 1979; Hoagland and Turner, 1980). The effluent adds heat to the receiving waters, which extends the breeding season of teredinids, increases their growth rates, and reduces their winter mortality rates.

It has allowed the establishment of a tropical-subtropical shipworm, Teredo bartschi, in Oyster Creek and Forked River.

The design of the generating station's cooling system, taking salt water from Barnegat Bay up Forked River, through the plant, and out into Oyster Creek, has in-creased the salinity of these two creeks. Shipworms now can reside in these creeks, which previously were unsuitable in salinity level and constancy for the establishment of actively breeding shipworm populations.

The populations of Teredo bartschi compared with the native species in Oyster Creek and Forked River are the focus of current studies.

This report summarizes an ongoing collection of data on physical parameters of Barnegat Bay, as well as species composition, distribu-tion, growth, mortality, and reproduction of teredinids. We also assess the degree of shipworm damage occurring at each station.

+

1 l

METHODS Stations Over the first three years of our study, 20 stations were established in Barnegat Bay to monitor boring and fouling organisms.

In September, 1979, the number was reduced to 12.

The stations are shown in Hoagland and Turner, 1980, and are listed in the appendix.

The station numbers are not contiguous because some have been discontinued.

Station 1 is a northern centrol station on Barnegat Bay outside the influence of the heated effluent. Some shipworms, primarily Bankia gouldi, are traditionally four.d there. Station 3 is a control station in a tidal creek outside the influence of the ef fluent.

Shipworms are rarely found there. Stations 4, 5, and 6 are in Forked River, influenced by the plant's water intake system. There is some recirculation of heated water that affects these stations, but the main influence is that the salinity is essentially that of the bay. Station 6 is sampled on a reduced schedule, only 4 times a year.

Station 8 is on the bay between Oyster Creek and Forked River.

Stations 10-12 are in Oyster Creek, influenced directly by heat, increased (and constant) salinity, and other components of the effluent (heavy metals, silt, increased flow rate, etc.) Since JCP & L calculates average values of heavy metal input per month, exact data necessary to characterize the effluent completely are not available.

Stations 14 and 15 are at or near the southern limit of the thermal plume, on Barnegat Bay.

Station 15, like Station 6, is being sampled on a reduced schedule. Station 18 on Long Beach Island is being used only as a reliable source of Teredo navalis for laboratory experiments.

Field Work Once each month, the water temperature and salinity are measured at each

(

station. Air temperature and time of day are also recorded. The amount of silt settling on wood panels submerged for one month is estimated as trace, light, moderate, or heavy. At stations 1, 5, 11, and 14, records of temperature and salinity are kept by means of constant recording instruments that are serviced once a month.

White pine panels, approximately 3/4" x 4" x 8",

are used to obtain ship-worms for study.

There are three panel series:

1) Each month, a panel that has been in the water for 1 month is removed and replaced.

In this way data on monthly settlement and early growth of borers are obtained.

2) Each month, a panel that has been in the water for 12 months is 2

l

removed and replaced.

It provides data on timing of reproduction, species and age structure of established borer communitics, and other population data.

3) Each May, a series of 12 panels is deployed.

These panels are removed one per month. They provide information on the cumulative growth and maturation of individual borers as well as develop-ment of the boring and fouling communities. The cumulative monthly amount of wood destruction can be evaluated. These three panel series are called M, Y, and C, aespectively.

The Y and C series are replicated at some stations, as indicated in the data tables to follow. Replica-tion is not possible at all stations because of lindted space where the water is deep enough to submerge a series of shipworm panels.

Panels are presoaked for 2 weeks, then set on aluminum frame racks against bulkheading or off finger docks. They rest about 6" above the water-sediment interface.

Laboratory Work Panels are examined for pediveliger shipworm larvae and boring isopods, scraped, and X-rayed to locate the shipworms and provide a permanent record of damage.

It is possibic to count and of ten to identify shipworms from the X-rays in uncrowded panels, but X-rays do not provide quantita-tive data in most cases. Therefore, using the X-rays as guides, the panels are dissected. All the shipworms are removed, identified, examined for larvae in the gills, and measured (length only).

They are preserved in 75% buffered alcohol.

Identifications are first made by technicians, but all Teredo spp, are checked by one of the senior investigators.

Wood fragments from the dissected panels are saved. Calcareous tubes and other debris lef t by the shipworms are removed with HCL.

The wood is washed in fresh water, then dried to constant weight, allowed to cool to room temperature, and weighed. The panels are also weighed before going into the water. The weight difference is a measure of wood destruction due to boring organisms.

During dissection of the wood panels, we estimate the percentage of empty tubes, which indicate mortality.

If pallets are still present in the empty tubes, we can record the species of the dead shipworm.

Shipworms from the teplicate 12-month panels are not preserved but are kept alive and allowed to spawn in tanks containing filtered sea water (22% salinity) and new pine panels.

In this way, we have established pure laboratory populations of Teredo bartschi.

Individuals of B. gouldi and T. navalis from the field are being maintained in the laboratory.

These stocks are used for temperature and salinity tolerance experiments.

Attempts are underway to establish breeding colonies of Teredo navalis.

3 1

Experiments to determine temperature and salinity tolerances of the three teredinid species are underway. Three were reported in our last report (Hoagland et al, 1980). None were completed within March-May, 1980, so none are reported here.

Long-term experiments were necessary because the shipworms tolerated drastic short-term changes in temperature and salinity.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Physical Data The Oyster Creek Nuclear Cenerating Station was not operating during March-May, 1980, as shown by the temperature data in Tables 1 and 2.

As in past years, Station 3 at Stout's Creek was often a few degrees warmer than the other stations. The daily temperature range was often slightly greater at bay stations than in the tidal creeks. The continu-ous temperature recorder data for March suggested a low-level heat addition for at least part of the month. However, the comparative data for Station 14 south of Oyster Creek are missing. Looking at the data for April, there may have been naturally warmer waters in the southern part of our test area (Stations 11 and 14) during March and April.

Tables 3 and 4 present monthly salinity profiles at the 9 stations to the nearest part per thousand. The fluctuation from month to month was very large at the two northernmost stations. The salinity at Stout's Creek in March was unusually high, while the among-station variation for March was low, indicating an intrusion of bay waters into the tidal creeks. The data for May show why shipworms are rarely found at Stout's Creek: the salinity there fell to only 4 */.., while remaining above 3

13 */.. at all other stations. The Oyster Creek station was pumping water at a reduced rate during this period (Table 5).

The amount of silt deposited on panels removed in March and April was l

estimated independently by two technicians on a scale of trace-light-moderate-heavy. All monthly panels contained trace amounts. The i

cumulative panels removed in April varied in degree of silt. Silt was recorded at " trace" levels at bay control Stations 1 and 14 as well as at the bay Station 8 between Oyster Creek and Forked River. Silt was I

ht at the control creek (Stout's Creek, Station 3).

Moderate silt

.s recorded at Station 11 in Oyster Creek, but all other stations in Oyster Creek and Forked River had heavy siltation.

I 4

4 i

Table 1 Temperature Profiles in

• C March 7 - May 3, 1980a Station March 7 April 7 tiay 3 Differential among months, within stations b

1 2.5 12.8 16.0 13.5 3

6.0c 13.5 19.2C 13.2 4

4.0 14.2c 15.0 11.0 5

4.5 13.0 15.0 10.5 8

3.5 13.0 17.0 13.5 10 2.5b 12.5 14.0 11.5 11 4.0 13.0 14.0 10.0 12 4.2 11.5b 14.5 10.3 14 4.0 12.5 13.5b 9.5 Differential 3.5 1.3 5.7 among stations within months a The nuclear generating station was not operating b I.cwest monthly value C liighest monthly value 5

l Table 2 Continuous Temperature Recorder Data (*C) for March 7 - June 6,1980 Stations 1, 5, 11, 14 I. Temperature at 1:00 P.M.

EST I

March 7-April 7 April 7-May 3 May 3-June 6 1

5 11 14a 1

5 11 14 1

5 11a 14 Mean Daily Temp. at IPM 6.1 5.8 7.5 12.6 13.0 13.8 13.5 '

18.2 18.6 18.2 i

Standard deviation 2.4 2.1 2.2 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.4 2.6 1.9 2.5 Highest value of Temp.

I at 1 PM 11.3 10.3 12.1 15.4 15.4 16.4 16.0 23.8 22.8 22.9 Lowest value of Temp.

at 1 PM 1.4 1.1 3.5 10.2 10.4 8.8 10.3 12.8 15.6 13.0 os Monthly Temp. Range 9.9 9.2 8.6 5.2 5.0 7.6 5.7 11.0 7.2 9.9 i

II. Maximum Daily Temperature March 7-April 7 April 7-May 3 May 3-June 6 1

5 11 14a 1

5 11 14 1

5 11a 14 Mean value of Max.

6.8 7.1 8.3 13.4 13.7 15.2 14.8 18.9 19.7 19.3 Daily Temp.

Standard deviation 2.5 2.1 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.7 2.6 2.7 2.5 Highest value of Max. Daily Temp.

12.1 11.9 12.2 15.9 15.9 17.7 18.2 24.4 25 3 23.4 Lowest value of I

Max. Daily Temp.

2.4 2.5 4.4 10.6 10.6 12.3 12.1 13.8 15.8 14.0 Monthly Range of l

Max. Daily Temp.

9.7 9.4 7.8 5.3 5.3 5.4 6.1 10.6 9.5 9.4 i

L Table 2, continued III. Minimum Daily Temperature March 7-April 7 April 7-May 3 May 3-June 6 1

5 11 14a 1

5 11 14 1

5 lla 14 Mean value of Min.

5.2 4.8 7.0 11.8 11.7 13.3 13.0 17.0 17.1 17.0 Daily Temp.

Standard deviation 2.3 2.7 2.3 1.5 1.7 1.5 1.4 2.4 2.6 2.7 Highest value of Min. Daily Temp.

9.8 9.4 11.6 14.5 14.2 16.1 15.9 22.6 22.8 21.8 Lowest value of Min. Daily Temp.

1.2 -2.1 2.7 9.5 7.0 8.8 10.0 12.3 13.3 11.4 Monthly Range of Min. Daily Temp.

8.6 11.5 8.9 5.0 7.2 7.3 5.9 10.3 9.5 10.4 IV. Daily Temperature Range March 7-April 7 April 7-May 3 May 3-June 6 1

5 11 14a 1

5 11 14 1

5 lla 14 Mean value of Daily AT 1.6 2.3 1.3 0.7 1.6 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.9 2.6 2.3 Standard deviation 0.7 1.0 0.8 0.4 0.7 1.2 1.2 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.0 Largest Daily AT for one month 3.4 4.6 3.0 1.9 3.6 4.6 5.4 3.5 5.4 5.3 5.2 Smallest Daily AT for one month 0.5 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.9 1.0 0.9 a Temperature Recorder malfunction

d t

7 I

I Table 3 Salinity Profiles in */... March 7-May 3,1980 Station March 7 April 7 May 3 Differential among j

months, within stations 1

8 1

20 8

15 12 3

18a 8a 4a 14 4

22b 18 20b 4

5 22b 19 20b 3

8 22b 20 16 6

i 10 21 18 16 5

1 11 22b 17 16 6

I 12 22b 16 16 6

14 22b 22b 14 8

Di(ferential 4

14 16 9

among stations, within months 4

a Lowest monthly salinity b

j Highest monthly salinity i

l d

i:

8' i

1 1

i Table 4 Continuously Recording Salinometer Data (12:00 Noon, EST)

March 7-June 7, 1980, in */. _

Date Statistic Sta. 5 Sta. 11 March 7-N 0

31 April 7 x

19.8 Sg 3.0 i

i April 7 N

22 0

May 3 i

14.3 Sg 4.2 May 4 N

19 21 June 6 E

17.4 16.4 1

S-1.0 1.0 X

J t

• N

= Number of days recorded; indicates extent of missing data.

E

= Mean S-

= Standard deviation Y

4 Explanation of Missing Data:

Sta. 1, 14 not in service Sta.'S not in service during March; Sta. 11 not in service During April-

~

9 4

m

.m.

Table 5 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station 6 Circulation and Dilution Flow in gal. x 10 for March 1-May 31; 1980 Total Circulating Water Flow Total Dilution Flow 6

6 (gal. 10 )

(gal. 10 )

March 0

22,437 April 0

18,514 May 5,277 18,369 6

s 10

Shipworm Populations The species of Teredinidae found in Barnegat Bay continued to be Bankia gouldi, Teredo navalis, and Teredo bartschi, as in our previous reports. The species are reviewed in Turner, 1966. Tables 6-8 present the numbers of individuals alive and dead in the cumulative panels sub-merged May 5, 1979; the panel removed on May 3, 1980, is equivalent to a yearly panel. The living populations were largest at Stations 1, 8, and 14.

The most common species was B,.

gouldi, although T. navalis was almost equally abundant at Station 14 (Waretown). Mortality was greatest in Oyster Creek. Most of the Teredo sp. and Teredinid sp. reported in Table 7 were T. bartschi at Stations 4-12'and T. navalis at Station 1, but the pallets were lost or loose in the tubes and could not be associated with any particular tube because of severe wood decay.

The species at Station 14 is unknown.

The largest living specimens were at Station 4 in Forked River (Table 9); there were no juveniles settling anywhere during this period.

The cumulative and the yearly panels (Tables 10-12) yieldel similar.

results, because the panels were in the water for almost the same dura-tion. Again, Bankia gouldi was dominant among living specimens and most Teredo bartschi were dead. There were no juveniles. Mortality was greatest in Oyster Creek.

Because of the very heavy shipworm attack in the summer and fall of 1979, many panels were completely riddled and several were lost. The very heavy mortality of adults in 1980 is attributable to the heavy attack and disintegration of the wood in Oyster Creek and Forked River, as well as to the shutdown of the OCNGS and consequent mortality to Teredo bartschi.

Many of the otherwise empty shipworm burrows contained Nereis succinea, which eat the shipworms when the wood begins to crumble and expose the tubes.

One difference between the cumulative and yearly panels whs the size ranges of living specimens (Table 13 versus Table 9).

The largest living-specimens in the yearly panels were at Stations 1 and 14. -However, the burrow lengths suggested many large but dead specimens at other stations.

The actual sizes of the living shipworms in the two panel series were comparable.

There were no living Teredo bartschi in the yearly pancis, and only 4 in the cumulative panels. This difference-is within the realm of_ sampling error.

11 m.

_._______________.__,_._.-____-____m.--.________.___-..s.

.m.m.-.

.- mm--

- m.

-u w-*A

Table 6 Numbers of Living Shipworms in Cumulative Panels Submerged May 5, 1979 Date Removed: March 7 April 7-May 3 Station Bg.

T.n.

T.b.

T_ sp.

Total B3 B3 T.n.

T.b. Teredinid Total

.T3 Total sp.

,-~

.1 60 7

0 0

67 50 4

54 a

3 0

0 6

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

4 18 4

0 0

22 3

3 6

9 6

0 0

15 5

23 7

0 0

30 16 10 26 17 3

0 0

20

/

/'

8

'56 9

l' 1

67 40 9

49 46 5

1 11 63 10 5

1 2

0 8

6 0

6 2

3 0

1 6

/

11 a

a a

(-

12

'O O

O O

O O

O O

O 2

0 0

2 x

14 22 16 0

0 38 25 19 44 28 23 0

0 51

\\

x Totals 184~

44 3

1 232 140 45 185 102 42 1

12 157 apanel lost (riddled)

l' Table 7 Number of Living Shipworms plus Empty Tubes, Cumulative Panels Submerged May 5, 1979 Date Removed: March 7 April 7 May 3 Station B3. T.n. T.b. T.sp. T*

Total M. T.n. T.sp.

T*

Total Bg. T.n. T.b. T.sp. T*

Total 1

60 7

0 0

>93

>160 50 4

0

>162

>216 a

3 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

4 18 4

0 4

3 29 3

3 3

0 9

10 6

0 3

4 23 5

23 7

0 0

67 97 16 10 0

40 66 17 3

0 5

33 58 8

56 9

1 0

84 150 40 9

0 51 100 52 5

1 0

57 115 10 7

1 2

b b

b 7

b b

b b

b 11-a a

a 12 b

b 2

14 24 16 0

0 16 56 28 19 0

18 65 28 23 0

0 65 116 C

Totals >188

>44

>3

>4

>263 >502 >144

>45

>3

>272

>464 >107 >39

>l

>8 >159

>312 l-a Panel lost-(riddled) 1 l

.b' Panel riddled with empty tubes

• Teredinid-l l

-.. ~ ~ - - -

I Table 8 Percentage of Specimens Alive when Collected, Cumulative Panels i

Date Removed:

March 7 April 7 May 3 No.Living Total No.

No.Living Total No.

No.Living Total No.

Station Specimens Tubes Specimens Tubes Alive Specimens Tubes Observed - Alive Observed Observed Alive 1

67

->160

<42 54 21ti 25 a

a 3-0 0

0 0

0 0

4 22 29 76 6

9 67 15 23 65 5

30 97

31..

26 86 30 20 58 34 8

67 150 45 49 100 49 63 115 55 10 8

b

<2 6

b

<1 6

b

<1 11 a

a a

a a

a 12 0

b.

0 0

b 0

2 b

<1 5

14 38 56 68 44 65 mi l

51 116 44

.s Totals

'232

>502

<46 185

>464

<40 J 157

>312

<50 1

f a Panel lost (riddled).

b Panel riddled with empty tubes L

l l

Table 9 l

Length Ranges of Living Shipworms, in mm, Cumulative Panels l

Date Removed: March 7 April 7 May 3 l

Station B_. g.

T.n.

T.b.

Bg.

T.n.

B_. g.

T.n.

T.b.

1.

10-76 15-33 16-52 27-30 3

4 88-180*

85-160*

124-230*

97-220*

110-265*

80-165*

l 5

26-160 11-47 33-142 27-132 15-170 25-50 I

8 15-100

.20-71 7

16-165 19-93 15-145 20-75 30 10 20-140 45 6-12*

23-117 65-96 40-50 11 12 62-95 14-30-154 37-150 50-210 40-150 38-185 21-140 g

• Largest specimen of each species, each month l

l

. _ _ _ _ -. _ _ _.... ~ _. _ _. _ _

Table 10 Numbers of Living Shipworms in Yearly Panels Date Removed:

March 7 April 7 May 3 Station B3 T.n.

T.sp.

Total B3 T.n.

Total Bg.

T.n.

Total 1

24 3

0 27 34 2

36 20 3

23 3

0 0

0 0

0 0

.0 1

0 1

4 a

a 10 3

13

-5 30 31 1

62 13 6

19 16 18 34 8

56 13 0

69 34 10 44 24 1

25 10 3

0 0

3 a

a 11 10 4

0 14 '

5 1

6 8

0 8

12 a

a a

14 16 23' 0

39 22 35 57 24 10 34 Totals 139 74-1 214 108 54 162 103 35 138 8 Panel lost (riddled) v

Table 11 4

s Numbers of Living Shipworms, plus Empty Tubes, Yearly Panels Date Removed: March 7 April 7 May 3 Station B.g.

T.n.

Tere-Total B.g.

T.n.

Tere-Total B.g.

T.n.

Tere-Total dinid dinid dinid 1

24 3

10 37 34 2

1 37 20 4

0 24 3

.0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

1 0

0 1

4' a

'a 12 3

10 25 5

'30 31

>139 >200 16 6

>168

>190 16 18 69 103 8

56 13'

>121 >190 34 10

> 66

>110 25 0 >100

>125 10' 3

b b

b a

a 6

11 10 4

b b

5 1

b-b 8

b b

b 12' a

a a

14' 16 23 27 66 22 35 48 105 24 10 8

42 U

l Totals 139 74

>297 >510b 111 54

>283

>448b 106 35 >187

>328 L

i 8 Panel lost (riddled)

-b Panel riddled with empty tubes 1-I I

1

a i

e i

Table 12 Percentage of Specimens that were Alive when Collected, Yearly Panels Date Removed: March 7 April 7.

May 3 Station No.Living -Total No.

No.Living Total No.

No.Living Total No.

Specimens Observed Alive Specimens Observed Alive Specimens Observed Alive Tubes

' Tubes Tubes 1

27 37 73 36 37 97 23 24 96 3

0 0

0 0

1 1

100 4

a.

a a

a 13 25 52 5

61

>200

<31 19

>190

<10 34 103 33 8

'69

>190

<36 44

>110

<40 25

>125

<20

'10.

3 b

<1 a

a a

a

-11 14 b

<2 6

b

<1 8

b

<1 12 a

a a

-a a

a 5'

14' 39 67 58 57 105 54 34 52 65 i

Totals-214

>510

<42 162

>448

<36 138

>328

<42

" Panel lost (riddled) b Panel riddled with empty tubes i

i e

W

~w.-r

- ~

.~

Table 13 i

Length Ranges of Shipworms, in mm. Yearly Panels i

t L

Date Removed: March 7 April 7 May 3 1

Station' B_.g.

T.n.

B3 T.n.

Bg.

T.n.

1 60-162*

109-210*

15-140 86-115 72-243*

88-175*

l 3

205 4.45-120 65-125 l

5 10-102 10-80 20-110 6-37 22-90 11-80 i

8 10-150 13-70 11-115 10-50 14-70 broken

[

10 45-120 11 27-115 12-72 25-65 26 32-93 12 14 30-155 31-140 32-232*

15-185*

31-190 30-90 l

G i

• Largest specimen of'each species, each month F

P l

Wood-weight data (Tables 14 and 15) demonstrate the severe attack suf fered primarily during 1979.

There was no significant increase in damage between March and May, 1980. Many panels lost over 75% of their wood weight. Damage was greatest in Oyster Creek, where many panels were lost altogether despite their being tied on to the racks with twine in addition to the usual metal fasteners.

Table 16 presents data on the number of Teredo navalis found brooding larvae in the gills.

No brooding T. bartschi were found, and none of the brooding T. navalis were from Oyster Creek.

20

Table 14 Percentage of Wood Weight Lost by Cumulative Panels Submerged May 5,1979 Station March 7, 1930 April 7, 1980 May 3, 1980 1

73.9 86.8 a

3 0.0 0.0 0.0 4

58.9 b

b 5

66.0 65.4 62.6 8

75.4 67.8 b

10 73.0 72.1 74.0 11 a

a a

12 80.2 81.1 73.0 14 54.3 61.8 56.1 a Panel lost (riddled) b Data missing or error in recorded wood weight 21

I Table 15 Percentage of Wood Weight Lost by Yearly Panels Station March 7, 1980 April 7, 1980 May 3, 1980 1

57.6 55.5 53.0 3

0.0 0.0 5.0 4

a a

58.7 5

77.1 75.5 69.8 8

74.5 76.9 75.6 10 82.9 a

a 11 78.1 82.7 73.7 12 a

a a

14 66.1 60.1 62.5 Panel lost (riddled)

I t

9 l

l 22

Table 16 Teredo navalis with Larvae in the Gills Station Date No. with larvae Total N

% with larvae 4

Cum May 6

6 100 5

Cum May 1

3 33 8

Cum May 1

5 20 14 Cum May 6

23 26 5

Yr. May 2

18 11 14 Yr. May 4

10 40 23

CONCLUSIONS The combination of heavy wood destruction in summer and fall,1979, and the shutdown of the OCNGS in winter and spring, 1980, caused heavy mortality of shipworms in Oyster Creek and Forked River in 1980.

Coupling these data with earlier observations of high numbers of shipworms when the station operated throughout the winter and early spring (Hoagland & Crocket, 1979; Hoagland & Turner,1980), and low numbers when the plant was off (Hoagland et al.

1977), we now have a large amount of solid evidence that the shipworm outbreaks are correlated with the operation of the nuclear generating station at Oyster Creek.

Furthermore, Teredo bartschi population structure and size are more sensitive to the operation of the station than are population parameters of other species. There is a greater variation in T. bartschi popu-latien size, making it the major contributor to the shipworm outbreaks in both numbers and wood damage, despite its small size (usually less than 30 mm in length).

We recommend an intensive clean-up of old wood in Oyster Creek and the mouth and south branch of Forked River in the winter of 1980-81 in an effort to eliminate Teredo bartschi while its numbers are low.

We are monitoring the population genetic structure of the species in order to evaluate if any future outbreaks are caused by re-introductions or by a few individuals surviving unfavorable periods such as the winter of 1979-80.

24 L

REFERENCES Hoagland, K. E. and L. Crocket.

1979. Analysis of populations of boring and fouling organisms in the vicinity of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

Annual Progress Report.

Sept. 1, 1977-Aug. 31, 1978.

NUREG/CR-0634.113 pp.*

Hoagland, K. E. and R. D. Turner.

1980.

Range extensions of teredinids (shipworms) and polychaetes in the vicinity of a temperate-zone nuclear generating station. Marine Biology (in press).

Hoagland, K.

E.,

L. Crocket, and M. Rochester.

1978. Analysis of population of boring and fouling organisms in the vicinity of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station with discussion of relevant physical factors over the period: Dec. 1, 1977-Feb. 28, 1978.

NUREG/CR-0223.

44 pp. ***

Hoagland, K.

E.,

L. Crocket, and R. D. Turner.

1980.

Ecological studies of wood-boring bivalves in the vicinity of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, Sept. 1, 1979-Feb. 28. 1980.

NUREG/CR-1517.*

65 pp.

Hoagland, K.

E.,

R. D. Turner, and M. Rochester.

1977. Analysis of boring and fouling organisms in the vicinity of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station with discussion of relevant physical parameters over the period: April 30-November 30, 1976. Report to the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Jan. 1, 1977.

61 pp.

Turner, R. D.

1966. An Illustrated Catalog of the Teredinidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia). Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

265 pp.

Turner, R. D.

1974.

In the path of a warm, saline effluent.

American Malacol. Union Bull. for 1973.

39:36-41.

• Available for purchase from the NRC/GPO Sales Program, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington,D.C. 20555, and the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Va. 22161.

• • • Available for purchase from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Va. 22161.

25

- ~.

APPENDIX: STATION LOCALITIES STATION NUMBER NAHE DESCRIPTION COORDINATES 1

Holly Park Dick's Landing Lat. 39' 54' N

Island Drive Lon. 74' 8'

W Bayville, N.J.

Bay control i

3 Stout's Creek End of Raleigh Drive 39' 50.7' N

Gustav Walters' residence 74*

9' W

Estuarine control 4

Mouth of South Shore 39' 49.6' N

Forked River Developed property 74*

9.8' 'W Possible temperature increase increased oceanic influence due to reverse flow 5

Leilani Drive At branch point of 39' 49.6' N

Forked River 74* 10.5' W

6 Elk's Club South Branch 39' 49.4' N

Forked River 74* 10.9' W

Increase in salinity due to l

plant intake canal 8

Bayside Beach On bay between Oyster Creek 39* 49.0' N

Club and Forked River across 74" 9.7' W

from 1815 Beach Blvd.,

Forked River, N.J.

Temperature increase since plant operation.

10 Kochman's End of Compass Rd. on 39' 48.5' N

Residence

1. 1 Lagoon, Oyster Creek, 74* 10.6' W

Waretown, N.J.

Temperature, salinity, siltation increase

-27 m

. m mm.

m

.m

.=.

i I

i i

STATION NUMBER NAME

.;4SCRIPTION COORDINATES Dock Ave. on Oyster Creek, 39' 48.5' N

11 Crisman's e

Residence Waretown, N.J.

74* 11.0' W

Temperature, salinity, siltation increase i

12 Gilmore's 20 Dock Ave. on Oyster Creek 39' 48.5' N

Residence Waretown, N.J. Temperature, 74* 11.3' W

salinity, siltation increase I

14 Cottrell's End of North Harbor Rd.

39' 47.7' N

Clam Factory Waretown, N.J. (Mouth of 74* 10.9' W

Waretown Creek)

Within but near limits of reported thermal plume 15 Carl's Boats Washington & Liberty Sts 39' 47' N

Waretown, N.J. (on the bay) 74* 11' W

18 Barnegat Light Marina adjacent to Coast 39' 45.8' N

i l

Guard Station 74*' 6.5' W

0 l

I I

l i

i 28 I

l

= _ - -

DISTRIBUTION LIST Distribution Category:

RE Supplemental Distribution:

Part A Mr. Richard Baumgardt Dick's Landing l

Holly Park Bayville, New Jersey 08721 i

Mr. William Campbell P.O. Box 668 108 Long John Silver Way Waretown, New Jersey 08758 Mr. Stan Cottrell l

North Harbor Road i

Waretawn, New Jersey 08758 Mr. Wilson T. Crisman 901 Hudson Street i

Hoboken, New Jersey 07030 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gilmore -

20 Dock Ave., Box 205 E, R.R.I.

Waretown, New Jersey 08758 f

Mr. Walter Holzman 1915 Beach Blvd.

Forked River Beach, New Jersey 08731 Mr. Charles Kochman Compass Road Waretown,' New Jersey 08758 Mr. Ed Sheridan 1108 Leilani Drive.

Forked River, New Jersey 08731 Mr. Gustav Walters 100 Manhattan Avenue, Apt. 706 Union City, New Jersey 07087 29 i

)

Mr. Edward Wheiler 16 River View Drive P. O. Box 642 Forked River, New Jersey 08731 i

Part B Battelle Columbus Laboratories j

Clapp Laboratories Duxbury, Massachusetts 02332 Mr. Michael Reche Supervisor of Environmental Science Jersey Central Power and Light Co.

Madison Ave. at Punchbowl Road Morristown, New Jersey 07960 Dr. Glenn Paulson Asst. Commissioner for Science Dept. of Environmental Protection State of New Jersey P. O. Box 1390 Trenton, New Jersey 08625 i

Mr. Alan R. Hoffman Lynch, Brewer, Hoffman & Sands Ten Post Office Square Suite 329 l

Boston, Massachusetts 02109 Mr. John Makai Nacote Creek Research Station Star Route Absecon, New Jersey 08201 Mr. Steve Lubow NJDEP-Division of Water Resources P.O. Box CN-029 Trenton, New Jersey 08625 Dr. Harry L. Allen US EPA Region II 26 Federal Plaza l

Room 832 l

New York, New York 10007 30.

Dr. John Strand Ecosystems Department Battelle Northwest Lab Richland. Washington 99352 31 1

EUI U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION yy BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA SHEET NUREG/CR-1795

4. TITLE AN D SUBTITLE Mda volume No.,if apprapneel

2. Eome Wm&f Ecological Studies of Wood-Boring Bivalves in the

3. REclPIENT'5 ACCESSION NO.

Vicinity of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station

7. AUTHOR 15)

5. DATE REPORT COMPLE.TED K. E. Hoagland, L. Crocket wou1H LvaAR October 19R0

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND MAILING ADORESS # ache Ze Coel DATE REPORT ISSUED Wetlanos Institute E" ember I 9 80 Lehigh University

s. n mens Stone Harbor, NJ 08247

s. n wees

12. SPONSORING ORGANIZATION NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS # ache le Com/

p Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research U.S.- Nuclear Regulatory Commission

11. CONTRACT NO.

Washington, D. C.

20555 B5744

13. TYPE OF REPORT Ps RIOD COVE RE D #acksise elems)

Progress Report March 1 - May 31,1980

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

14. E,me u m&J

16. ABSTRACT G00 evenss or Aeuf The species Composition, distribution, and population dynamics 01 wood-boring bivalves 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 12 stations.

Physiological tolerances of 3 species are also under investigation in the laboratory.

Relative destructiveness and competition among the species are being analyzed. The native species Teredo navalis and Bankia gouldi coexist with the introduced T. bartschi in Oyster Creek, at the mouth of Forked River and on the coast of the bay between the two, creeks.

Heavy mortality occurred in all species during winter and spring wnen the generating station was not operating. Very few T. bartschi were found alive in the spring panels; they were more affected than native species by the plant shutdown.

Temperature and salinity tolerance tests begun during April and May,1980, were not completed by the end of May because the adult shipworms proved to be very resistant to drastic changes in these physical parameters.

17. KEY WoRDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS-17a6 DESCRIPTORS wood-boring bivalves Bankia gouldi Oyster Creek T. bartschi Shipworms Barnegat Bay Teredo,1avalis 17ta. IDENTIFIERS /OPEN4NDED MAMS

21. NO. 0F PAGES ggfNs suportl

18. AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 19.

Unlimited 2aYn $N ENEkI

'P' CRC FORM 335 (177)