Culture of selected estuarine organisms and monitoring of water quality in flow-through tanks receiving power-plant effluent

Abstract

Twenty-three species (2 molluscs, 4 crustaceans and 17 fishes) were screened for their maricultural potential. These 23 species and 22 other species (1 mullusc, 2 crustaceans, 16 fishes and 3 turtles) were also used as biological monitors in flow-through tanks and troughs receiving effluent from a power plant located on upper Falveston Bay, Texas. Growth and survival of organisms were monitored in water thermally regulated to 20, 25 and 30 C and in non-thermally-regulated water taken from the power plant discharge canal. Ambient conductivity ranged from 0 to 28 mho/cm. Rangia cureata and Mercenaria campechiensis survived and grew in water of low and fluctuating conductivity; however, low conductivity and high temperature limited survival of Crassostrea virginica. Palaemonetes pugio, Cyprinodon variegatus and Poecilia latipinna successfully reproduced in the laboratory. Cannibalism limited the survival of penaeid shrimp and Callinectes sapidus. C. sapidus were individually housed and by molting, soft-shell crabs were produced.