Effects of a thermal effluent on macroinvertebrates in a central Texas reservoir

We investigated the impact of a thermal effluent from an electricity-generating plant on the macroarthropod community in a central Texas reservoir for 1 yr by comparing the community of a 60-ha pond directly receiving the effluent to an area in the main body of the reservoir relatively unaffected by the effluent. Temperature of the pond averaged 7.2 C warmer than the main reservoir sites. Samples of artificial substrates constructed to mimic macrophytic vegetation indicated that the pond generally had lower macroinvertebrate abundance and reduced taxonomic diversity, though direction and severity of effects varied over time for most taxa. Deleterious effects were most severe in summer when temperatures of 40-42 C in the pond eliminated macroinvertebrates. Although taxa recolonized the pond after the summer defaunation, with some taxa briefly obtaining very high population levels, most taxa maintained lower population levels in the pond than the main reservoir throughout the winter. 32 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.