Reactions of cyprinids to infrasound in a lake and at the cooling water inlet of a nuclear power plant

Behavioural effects of infrasound on cyprinids were tested. In Lake Borrevann, Norway, acute avoidance responses, at a distance up to 10 m from a 16 Hz infrasound projector were revealed by echosounding. At 10 m distance, a coarse estimate of the stimulus level (measured as the acceleration component of the particle motions) was c. 10⁻³ m s⁻². Habituation was not evident during these tests. Two synchronized infrasound units were also installed 6 m apart in front of a cooling water intake of a nuclear power plant on the River Meuse, Belgium. Echosounding was used to compare the number of fishes entering the intake canal during on–off infrasound sequences. Relative to off-periods, the reduction of the number of fishes entering during on-periods was >80% at a distance of 0–12 m from the units. A significant reduction of 48% was observed considering the whole width (54 m) that was monitored. Fish impingement on the mechanical screens during the study revealed that >90% of the fishes entering the intake were cyprinids.