Période d'éclosion des larves d'araignée de mer Maja squinado herbst en Manche et température de l'eau au printemps

Within the framework of ecological studies related to a coastal nuclear power plant in Flamanville (west coast of Cotentin, English Channel, France), zooplancton was sampled, according to a monthly and even fortnightly frequency, from 1977 to 1979 and from 1983 to 1992. At the same time, water temperature was measured; in addition, daily records taken at the intake cooling system are available since 1986. Occurence of young zoeae of spider crab (first stage) collected in the vicinity of power plant, but outside the thermal plume, shows interannual variability in hatching periods : hatching starts between the beginning of june and the end of july and reaches its maximum between early july and early september. Early hatching appear to be related with higher temperatures in spring. NOT CONTROLLED OCR