AUTHOR=Shaikh Wajiha , Panhwar Sher Khan , Yaqoob Nadeem 

TITLE=Thermal tolerance and critical maxima examined in marine gastropods inhabiting around Karachi Nuclear Power Plant

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.1006551

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2022.1006551

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=Benthic communities along the coastal basins are an indication of ecosystem health but highly susceptible owing to manmade activities. This study envisages thermal tolerance in sea snails Monodonta canalifera, Nerita albicella and Tylothais savignyi inhabiting around outfall and intake structures of the Karachi Nuclear Power plant (KANUPP). To test adaptability and vulnerability a lethality test protocols under controlled-temperature was applied in the laboratory where they were exposed at 25, 30, 35, 40 and raised 45℃ after acclimation period of one week. The critical thermal maximum (CTmax) for three species were found between 39~42℃ whereas the lethal temperature (LT50) tests revealed that utmost 45℃ was lethal for Monodonta canalifera. The correlation between LT50 and CTmaxima (R = 0.47, p = 0.00) and LT50 and body sizes reveals thermal adaptability in Nerita albicella and Tylothais savignyi (R = 0.65, p = 0.00) was relatively higher than that of the 45℃ given in the laboratory. In addition, microscopic changes due to temperature appeared in the foot (adhesive part) of each species were deduced from the histological examination. The outcomes of this study would help to underline ecosystem health around KANUPP and highlight precautionary measure required for newly established K2/K3 power units to safeguard habitat.