Changes in Macrophytes and Fish Communities in the Cooler of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (1988–2008) / Makrofitų Ir Žuvų Rūšinė Kaita Drūkšių Ežere – Ignalinos Atominės Elektrinės Aušinimo Baseine (1988–2008) / Изменение Видового Состава Макрофитов И Рыб Воз. Друкшяй –Водоеме Охладителе Игналинской Атомной Электростанции(1988–2008гг.)

Abstract

Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape ManagementPublication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information:Abstract. On the basis of long-term studies of the radionuclide and heavy metals accumulation and scatter in biotic and abiotic components of Drūkšiai Lake as well as of water and bottom sediments toxicity and genotoxicity, radioactive, chemical and thermal pollution potential impacts on macrophytes and fish communities of Drūkšiai Lake were evaluated. Before starting exploitation of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) 95 species of macrophytes were found in Drūkšiai Lake. Since the start-up of the second nuclear reactor of INPP (1987), significant alternations in macrophytes species composition and biomass in Drūkšiai Lake were especially observed to 1989. Resistant to the pollution macrophytes species began to dominate in the Lake. In 2007-2008 in the main part of the Lake, in which INPP sewage entered, only resistant to anthropogenic impacts macrophytes species were found. Fish species composition also has changed. The varietal diversity of the fish in the Lake significantly decreased from 23-26 (before INPP start-up) species to 14 ones. Considering the findings of our study, it can be assumed that changes in macrophytes species and fish varietal diversity in Drūkšiai Lake could be induced by total chemical, thermal and radioactive pollution, which had a negative impact on aquatic organisms. It can be predicted that new ecological conditions will appear in Drūkšiai Lake after INPP closing in 2009, notably after the changes of thermal water regime. However, the chemical and radioactive pollution in the Lake will be over a long period of INPP dismantling works. In addition, the great challenge for the ecosystem of Drūkšiai Lake will be a new nuclear power plant construction near the closed INPP.

Influence of hydropower dams on the state of macroinvertebrates assemblages in the Virvyte river, Lithuania

“…Ambers (2007) pointed out that the impact of small dams declined to negligible ecological levels a few kilometres downstream. Large dams produce notable changes in macroinvertebrate communities by elimination of habitats, flow regulation and alteration of thermal regime (Lessard, Hayes 2003;Grubbs, Taylor 2004;Doyle et al 2005;Marc ˇiulioniene ˙et al 2011). As a result, sensitive species disappear and density of entropic species increases.…”

What cooling pond sediments can reveal about 14C in nuclear power plant liquid effluents: Case study Lake Drūkšiai, Ignalina nuclear power plant cooling pond

“…However, significant changes in the cycle of organic and inorganic matter in the lake should have been associated with changes in the thermal regime [40]. An increase in temperature caused changes in the carbon cycle of the lake due to the impact on the lake's flora and fauna [41][42][43], water mixing, as well as organic and inorganic…”

Modeling of 14C Vertical Distribution in Bottom Sediments of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Cooling Reservoir

“…From December 1983 to December 2009 Lake Drūkšiai served as a cooling reservoir for the operating INPP. Nutrient load from Visaginas town (Visaginas was founded in 1975 for workers of the INPP) and the increase in water temperature altered vertical thermal stratification and caused change in the trophic state of the lake from (oligo) mesotrophic to almost eutrophic [18].…”

“…Experimentally determined C/N ratio values in the organics of the bottom sediment layers are informative to assess terrestrial versus aquatic plants contribution. However, we decided not to use C/N ratios to determine the ratio of organic matter of allochthonous versus autochthonous origin organic matter in sediments throughout the entire studied period, since changes in the temperature regime of lake water after the start of operation of the INPP have caused changes in plant species diversity in the lake [18,23]. The C/N ratio for planktonic and benthic algae and macrophytes varies.…”