Spatial Distribution of Nearshore Fish in the Vicinity of Two Thermal Generating Stations, Nanticoke and Douglas Point, on the Great Lakes

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Abstract
At Nanticoke, Lake Erie, 1974, mean fish density varied considerably, range 162–14 204/10 000 m3, as estimated by digital acoustic fish enumeration. At Douglas Point, Lake Huron, 1975, mean density varied less, range 108–671/10 000 m3. At both sites fish densities were generally greatest in the shallowest, 3–5 m, depths. At Nanticoke, where the nearshore has low relief, there were no distinguishable communities. At Douglas Point, where depth increases rapidly offshore, there was evidence of benthic and pelagic communities. There was no evidence of altered fish distribution in relation to temperature. At Nanticoke there was no vertical variation in temperature and no vertical response was to be expected. At Douglas Point there was thermal stratification present in the summer and there was no apparent response. The influence of incident radiation was uncertain because of the effects of diurnal migrations. At both locations fish were clustered horizontally to varying degrees in the spring and fall, while in the summer fish were distributed more evenly. Densest clusters were usually in the vicinity of the turbulent discharge at both locations. The lack of temperature response and the similarity of Nanticoke with situations at nearby streams on Lake Erie suggest that the fish are responding to currents and perhaps topography. Key words: temperature, acoustic enumeration, topography, light