5-2 



of colonizing species. Spiecies that do not settle on short-term panels 

 due to absence of proper "niche" may settle on long-term panels and 

 contribute to the development of the fouling community. 



Fouling-panel studies can be particularly effective in deter- 

 mining the extent of impact of a thermal discharge. Settlement times 

 and community composition are intricately related to water temperature 

 (Naylor, 1965; Osman, 1977) ; consequently, thermal addition may alter 

 spawning and settling periods as well as differentially affecting growth 

 rates. Panel studies are also an effective measure of availability of 

 recruitable larvae, a parameter potentially influenced by entrainment in 

 the power station cooling water intake system. Enright (1977) suggested 

 that although numerous, the number of larvae entrained is not ecologically 

 significant in most cases, and that panel surveys provide the most 

 conclusive information on the subject. 



The monitoring program was designed to characterize the normal 

 New Haven Harbor community as well as to detect any impact of the power 

 station on the community. The section entitled "Characterization of 

 Community" discusses natural, seasonal and annual fluctuations as well 

 as spatial variations in dominant species distribution. These param- 

 eters are compared with other sites in Long Island Sound. 



Potential modes of power station impact are examined in the 

 "analysis of impact" section. These parameters are considered with 

 reference to the New Haven Harbor community, utilizing information from 

 other thermal impact studies in Long Island Sound. Data from preopera- 

 tional and operational periods are compared to detect presence or 

 absence of impact. 



METHODS 



Exposure panels were maintained at Long Wharf, the New Haven 

 Harbor Station pier (referred to as the Coke Works Pier prior to 1976) 



