Community Characteristics and Potential Risk of Nekton in Waters Adjacent to Ningde Nuclear Power Plant in Fujian, China

The impact of bio-invasions and abnormal aggregations of marine life on the safety of cooling water systems in coastal nuclear power plants (NPPs) is significant and cannot be overlooked. In this study, we conducted 12 consecutive monthly surveys from September 2022 to August 2023 in the waters near...

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Main Authors: Wen Huang, Biqi Zheng, Dong Wen, Feipeng Wang, Lijing Fan, Zefeng Yu, Wei Liu, Shuang Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/5/481
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author Wen Huang
Biqi Zheng
Dong Wen
Feipeng Wang
Lijing Fan
Zefeng Yu
Wei Liu
Shuang Zhao
author_facet Wen Huang
Biqi Zheng
Dong Wen
Feipeng Wang
Lijing Fan
Zefeng Yu
Wei Liu
Shuang Zhao
author_sort Wen Huang
collection DOAJ
description The impact of bio-invasions and abnormal aggregations of marine life on the safety of cooling water systems in coastal nuclear power plants (NPPs) is significant and cannot be overlooked. In this study, we conducted 12 consecutive monthly surveys from September 2022 to August 2023 in the waters near Ningde NPP in Fujian, China, focusing on nekton species composition, dominant species, abundance, biomass, and diversity indices. We conducted statistical analyses to examine potential correlations between the community structure of these organisms and environmental factors. We recorded 120 species of nekton that belonged to 20 orders, 57 families, and 92 genera, including 72 species of fish, 23 species of shrimp, 19 species of crabs, and 6 species of cephalopods. Pearson and redundancy analyses showed that pH, DIP, and inorganic nitrogen were the main environmental factors driving the observed temporal changes in the nekton community structure in the seawater intake area. We also found that May to October is the peak period for nekton abundance and biomass, and during this time, there is a high risk of nekton blocking the cooling water system of the NPP. These results are of practical significance for NPP managers to prevent and control the clogging of the cooling water system by marine organisms, and the diversity and abundance data provide a theoretical basis for bioecological restoration and management of the area around the Ningde NPP.
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spelling doaj-art-7609a9cce8e542bb9677ffb4239333ca2025-08-20T01:56:20ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-04-0114548110.3390/biology14050481Community Characteristics and Potential Risk of Nekton in Waters Adjacent to Ningde Nuclear Power Plant in Fujian, ChinaWen Huang0Biqi Zheng1Dong Wen2Feipeng Wang3Lijing Fan4Zefeng Yu5Wei Liu6Shuang Zhao7Ningde Marine Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ningde 352100, ChinaNingde Marine Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ningde 352100, ChinaNingde Marine Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ningde 352100, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, ChinaNingde Marine Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ningde 352100, ChinaJoint Research Center of Marine Ecology of Coastal NPP, Ningde 352100, ChinaNingde Marine Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ningde 352100, ChinaOcean College, Fujian Polytechnic Normal University, Fuqing 350300, ChinaThe impact of bio-invasions and abnormal aggregations of marine life on the safety of cooling water systems in coastal nuclear power plants (NPPs) is significant and cannot be overlooked. In this study, we conducted 12 consecutive monthly surveys from September 2022 to August 2023 in the waters near Ningde NPP in Fujian, China, focusing on nekton species composition, dominant species, abundance, biomass, and diversity indices. We conducted statistical analyses to examine potential correlations between the community structure of these organisms and environmental factors. We recorded 120 species of nekton that belonged to 20 orders, 57 families, and 92 genera, including 72 species of fish, 23 species of shrimp, 19 species of crabs, and 6 species of cephalopods. Pearson and redundancy analyses showed that pH, DIP, and inorganic nitrogen were the main environmental factors driving the observed temporal changes in the nekton community structure in the seawater intake area. We also found that May to October is the peak period for nekton abundance and biomass, and during this time, there is a high risk of nekton blocking the cooling water system of the NPP. These results are of practical significance for NPP managers to prevent and control the clogging of the cooling water system by marine organisms, and the diversity and abundance data provide a theoretical basis for bioecological restoration and management of the area around the Ningde NPP.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/5/481nuclear power plantscooling water systemsnektoncommunity structurepotentially risky organismsecosystems
spellingShingle Wen Huang
Biqi Zheng
Dong Wen
Feipeng Wang
Lijing Fan
Zefeng Yu
Wei Liu
Shuang Zhao
Community Characteristics and Potential Risk of Nekton in Waters Adjacent to Ningde Nuclear Power Plant in Fujian, China
Biology
nuclear power plants
cooling water systems
nekton
community structure
potentially risky organisms
ecosystems
title Community Characteristics and Potential Risk of Nekton in Waters Adjacent to Ningde Nuclear Power Plant in Fujian, China
title_full Community Characteristics and Potential Risk of Nekton in Waters Adjacent to Ningde Nuclear Power Plant in Fujian, China
title_fullStr Community Characteristics and Potential Risk of Nekton in Waters Adjacent to Ningde Nuclear Power Plant in Fujian, China
title_full_unstemmed Community Characteristics and Potential Risk of Nekton in Waters Adjacent to Ningde Nuclear Power Plant in Fujian, China
title_short Community Characteristics and Potential Risk of Nekton in Waters Adjacent to Ningde Nuclear Power Plant in Fujian, China
title_sort community characteristics and potential risk of nekton in waters adjacent to ningde nuclear power plant in fujian china
topic nuclear power plants
cooling water systems
nekton
community structure
potentially risky organisms
ecosystems
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/5/481
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