The influence of a cooling water system on waterbird habitat use in a coastal environment

This study investigated the impact of a cooling water system at a nuclear power plant in northern Europe on coastal waterbird habitat use. In winter, the cooling water system provided preferential areas for waterbirds with warm productive waters, and, more importantly, with ice‐free areas. This was particularly obvious regarding the zoobenthivorous Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula , which was more abundant in winter in areas affected by the cooling water system than in control areas. This indicates a case of asymmetric effects regarding anthropogenic influence on wildlife: while the cooling water system traps and kills fish on the water intake screens, it concurrently seems to provide beneficial wintering conditions for coastal waterbirds.