A robust and flexible flow-through exposure system designed to maintain sediment in suspension is presented. The system is used to investigate the effects of suspended sediment on various aquatic species and life stages in the laboratory.
This paper describes the Fish Larvae and Egg Exposure System (FLEES). The flow-through exposure system is used to investigate the effects of suspended sediment on various aquatic species and life stages in the laboratory by using pumps and automating delivery of sediment and water to simulate suspension of sediment. FLEES data are used to develop exposure-response curves between the effects on aquatic organisms and suspended sediment concentrations at the desired exposure duration. The effects data are used to evaluate management practices used to reduce the interactions between aquatic organisms and anthropogenic causes of suspended sediments. The FLEES is capable of generating total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations as low as 30 to as high as 800 mg/L, making this system an ideal choice for evaluating the effects of TSS resulting from many activities including simulating low ambient levels of TSS to evaluating sources of suspended sediments from dredging operations, vessel traffic, freshets, and storms.
Las operaciones de dragado utilizan métodos mecánicos para eliminar los sedimentos del fondo de los puertos y canales de navegación. Durante la extracción, una parte del sedimento perturbado se suspende en la columna de agua, lo que podría hacer de esto una fuente de estrés físico para las especies acuáticas. Además de haber sido suspendido, el sedimento puede ser transportado lejos de la draga por las condiciones ambientales antes de establecerse fuera de la columna de agua. La combinación de estos dos mecanismos significa que un organismo acuático que se presenta cerca de una draga de funcionamiento puede estar expuesto a los sedimentos en suspensión y sufren efectos adversos. Para abordar estas preocupaciones, ventanas ambientales (restricciones de dragado de temporada) se utilizan rutinariamente como una práctica de manejo para reducir o eliminar el riesgo de los efectos potencialmente nocivos de los sedimentos en suspensión de las actividades de dragado en los recursos acuáticos 1,2.
ventanas ambientales son los más comúnmente establecidos para proteger peligro de extinción, amenazadas oespecies de valor comercial, tales como la lucioperca (Sander vitreus) y ostras (Crassostrea virginica) 3. La justificación de apoyo para la imposición de las ventanas ambientales a menudo se centra en cómo las actividades de dragado pueden potencialmente alterar físicamente (por ejemplo, sedimentos en suspensión) la capacidad del animal para completar una parte específica de su historia de vida. Las etapas de la vida comúnmente citados son los huevos y larvas para mantener abiertas las rutas de migración de las especies anádromas 3. Sin embargo, existe poca información referente a especies específicas de efectos biológicos pertinentes a 4,5 sedimentos en suspensión disponible para informar el uso de ventanas ambientales como una herramienta de gestión de riesgos.
Por estas razones, el huye fue diseñado, construido y utilizado para simular la suspensión de sedimentos, y para determinar sus efectos en las etapas tempranas de la vida de los organismos acuáticos. Huye de los estudios se usan partículas de sedimentos de grano fino (es decir, predominantemente limos,arcillas y arenas finas), que son más propensos a permanecer en suspensión y emigran más lejos de la fuente. El huye es capaz de huevos de peces y larvas de las pruebas, pero también puede ser adaptado para dar cabida a otros organismos acuáticos, por lo que es una capacidad única. Los datos de la respuesta biológica resultantes se pueden utilizar para evaluar los efectos de los sedimentos en suspensión. Los procedimientos siguientes proporcionan una visión general de cómo la tecnología puede ser construido y operado para dar concentraciones de sedimentos en suspensión y repetibles datos de efectos utilizando diversas especies acuáticas.
La tecnología huye mejora de los métodos existentes 4,9 por mantener y controlar los sedimentos en suspensión en un amplio rango de tiempos de exposición y las concentraciones de sedimentos en suspensión utilizando un sistema automatizado, controlado por ordenador. La tecnología es flexible de manera que puede ser usado para evaluar los efectos de los sedimentos en suspensión a múltiples especies acuáticas y etapas de la vida de diferentes tamaños de los huevos a los adultos dependiendo de la especi…
The authors have nothing to disclose.
This research was funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dredging Operations and Environmental Research Program, Todd Bridges, Director. Permission was granted by the Chief of Engineers to publish this material.
Parts List for one FLEES Module, Water Bath, and Aquarium | |||
post, wood – used to build module (cut to 78 in) | Local vendor | N/A | Quantity: 4 Size: 4 in x 4 in x 8 ft |
plywood, marine grade – fastened to wooden posts about 18 in off ground – for holding water bath (60 in x 42 in) | Local vendor | N/A | Quantity: 1 Size: 3/4 in x 4 ft x 8 ft |
plywood – fastened on top of wooden posts – for holding pipes, solenoids and electrical (60 in x 42 in) | Local vendor | N/A | Quantity: 1 Size: 1/4 in x 4 ft x 8 ft |
stud, wood – used to brace plywood and wooden posts (cut to fit) | Local vendor | N/A | Quantity: 4 Size: 2 in x 4 in x 96 in |
tank, fiberglass – water bath with two drains: 1) to supply chiller; and 2) to drain water | Hydro Composites, LLC, Stockdale, TX, USA | FBT-226 | Quantity: 1 Size: 150-gal |
chiller, water with self contained pump – for water bath; chiller sits under module | Remcor Products Co., Glendale Heights, IL, USA | CFF-500 | Quantity: 1 Size: 1/2 hp |
tank, domed bottom – FLEES aquaria – sit inside water bath | United States Plastic Corp, Lima, OH, USA | 5197 | Quantity: 5 Size: 19 L |
tank, stand – acrylic stand, 12 in x 12 in x 6 in – to hold aquaria | custom built by ERDC shops | N/A | Quantity: 5 Size: custom |
urethane, liquid- to seal carboy plug and prevent leaking | Forsch Polymer Corporation, Englewood, CO | 60A Liquid Urethane | Quantity: 5 Size: epoxy kit |
pump, magnetic drive – to suspend sediment in each aquarium | March Manufacturing Inc., Glenview, IL, USA | MDX-3-1/2 115 v | Quantity: 5 Size: 28 liter per min |
light, LED – installed over water bath | C2 Development, Inc., Ames, IA, USA | Hydra 26 | Quantity: 2 Size: based on area to light |
pipe, PVC schedule 40 – installed in drain of water bath to control water level | Local vendor | N/A | Quantity: – Size: 1 in |
fittings, bulkhead – for aquaria/water bath connections to pumps, drains, water and slurry lines | Lifegard Aquatics, Cerritos, CA, USA | R270900 | Quantity: 20 Size: 1/2 in FPT x FPT |
fittings, quick-disconnect, male pipe threaded inserts – insert in tank bulkhead | Cole-Parmer, Vernon Hills, IL, USA | EW-31303-36 | Quantity: 10 Size: 1/2 in MPT |
fittings, quick-disconnect, valved hose barbs – connection between aquarium and insert in tank bulkhead | Cole-Parmer, Vernon Hills, IL, USA | EW-31303-11 | Quantity: 10 Size: 1/2 in |
fittings, black HDPE threaded elbow – for aquaria vinyl tube connections to slurry/water line and pump | United States Plastic Corp, Lima, OH, USA | 62043 | Quantity: 20 Size: 1/2 NPT x 1/2 in Hose ID |
fittings, black HDPE threaded adapter – for connections between pump and tank bulkhead | United States Plastic Corp, Lima, OH, USA | 62017 | Quantity: 10 Size: 1/2 NPT x 1/2 in Hose ID |
tube, vinyl – connect slurry/water line to aquaria and to connect pumps to aquaria | Local vendor | N/A | Quantity: 25 ft Size: 1/2 in ID |
tube, vinyl – connect to aquaria drains inserts and water bath drain | Local vendor | N/A | Quantity: 25 ft Size: 5/8 in ID |
clamp, hose, stainless steel – to clamp vinyl tube to hose barbs | Local vendor | N/A | Quantity: 40 Size: #8 |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Parts list for Slurry System | |||
chiller, water with self contained pump – sits off to side of slurry tank | Remcor Products Co., Glendale Heights, IL, USA | CFF-500 | Quantity: 1 Size: 1/2 hp |
125 gallon open top cone bottom tank w/Stand – 42 in x 35 in – contains the water and sediment to make slurry | United States Plastic Corp, Lima, OH, USA | 8586 | Quantity: 1 Size: 125 gal |
Cover for 125 gallon tank | United States Plastic Corp, Lima, OH, USA | 8935 | Quantity: 1 Size: 42 in x 35 in |
valve, PVC – connect tank drain to pump – isolate for maintenance | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 2 Size: 1-1/2 in |
pump, double diaphragm mounted on stand – used to recirculate slurry | Wilden-pumps.co.uk & Air Pumping Ltd., Essex, UK | P2/PPPP/WF/WF/PTV/400 | Quantity: 1 contact distributor |
sensor, optical backscatter – measure NTU in slurry tank | Campbell Scientific, Logan, UT, USA | OBS-3+ | Quantity: 1 Size: 0-1000 NTU |
pipe, PVC Schedule 40 – to recirculate slurry | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 20 ft Size: 1 in |
pipe, flexible PVC – fitted with union and used to connect to next module | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 10 ft Size: 1 in |
union, PVC Schedle 80 Socket – connect slurry line with next module | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 8 Size: 1/2 in |
solenoid, plastomatic (normally closed) – introduce slurry | Plast-O-Matic Valves, Inc., Cedar Grove, NJ, USA | EASYMT4V12R24-PV | Quantity: 5 Size: 1/2 in NPT threaded, 24 VAC contact distributor |
fitting, PVC tee – connect slurry pipe with solenoid | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 5 Size: 1 in x 1 in x 1 in slip x slip x FIPT |
fittings, 1 in PVC ball valve threaded – shut off for slurry delivery to solenoid/water lines | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 7 Size: 1/2 in |
fittings, 1 in PVC union threaded – connect slurry solenoid to shut off valve | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 5 Size: 1/2 in |
tube, vinyl – connection between water solenoid and slurry solenoid | Local vendor | N/A | Quantity: 50 ft Size: 1/4" ID |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Parts list for Water System | |||
chiller, water with self contained pump – sits off to side of reservoir | Remcor Products Co., Glendale Heights, IL, USA | CFF-500 | Quantity: 1 Size: 1/2 hp |
125 gallon open top cone bottom tank w/Stand – 42 in x 35 in – contains the water and sediment to make slurry | United States Plastic Corp, Lima, OH, USA | 8586 | Quantity: 1 Size: 125 gal |
Cover for 125 gallon tank | United States Plastic Corp, Lima, OH, USA | 8935 | Quantity: 1 Size: 42 in x 35 in |
valve, PVC – connect tank drain to water pump | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 2 Size: 1 in |
pump, magnetic drive, in-line use – used to recirculate water to aquaria and chiller | Little Giant, Fort Wayne, IN, USA | 3-MD-SC | Quantity: 1 Size: 1/12 hp |
solenoid, alco – introduce water | discontinued; ASCO, Florham Park, NJ,USA for similar | N/A | Quantity: 5 Size: 24 v, 1/4 in NIPT |
fittings, black HDPE reducer connector – connect 1/4 in hose water line from solenoid to 1/2 in hose | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 5 Size: 1/2 in hose ID x 1/4 in hose ID |
fittings, black HDPE tee – connect 1/2 in hose water line and slurry to aquaria | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 5 Size: 1/2 in NPT x 1/2 in hose ID x 1/2 in hose ID |
fittings, street elbow | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 5 Size: 1/2 in 90° MIPT x FIPT |
fittings, PVC threaded pipe nipples – connect union fittings with solenoids and other connections | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 12 Size: 1/2 in |
fittings, union threaded – connect slurry/water lines with next module | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 6 Size: 1 in PVC |
fittings, reducer bushing – connect to reducer tee in water line | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 5 Size: 1/2 in male by 1/4 in female FIPT |
fittings, threaded pipe nipples – connection between bushing and water solenoid | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 5 Size: 4 in long x 1/4 in |
pipe, PVC – make connections between tank, pump and chiller | local plumbing vendor | N/A | Quantity: 5 ft Size: Schedule 40 |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Parts list for Sensors, Data Acquisition Device, and Computer Software | |||
software, LabView | National Instruments, Austin, Texas, USA | LabView 2015 Base | Quantity: 1 Size: N/A |
SCXI-1001 12-Slot Chassis, U.S. 120 VAC | National Instruments, Austin, Texas, USA | 776571-01 | Quantity: 1 Size: N/A |
SCXI 1100 – 32-Channel, ±10 V Analog Input Module | National Instruments, Austin, Texas, USA | 776572-00 | Quantity: 1 Size: N/A |
SCXI 1303 – Terminal block designed for high-accuracy thermocouple measurements | National Instruments, Austin, Texas, USA | 777687-03 | Quantity: 2 Size: N/A |
SCXI 1102B – 32-Channel Thermocouple/Voltage Input Module | National Instruments, Austin, Texas, USA | 776572-02B | Quantity: 1 Size: N/A |
SCXI 1161 – General-Purpose Relay Module | National Instruments, Austin, Texas, USA | 776572-61 | Quantity: 6 Size: N/A |
SCXI 1300 – General-Purpose Voltage Module | National Instruments, Austin, Texas, USA | 777687-00 | Quantity: 1 Size: N/A |
PCMCIA Card DAQCARD-AI-16E-4 | National Instruments, Austin, Texas, USA | N/A – legacy | Quantity: 1 Size: N/A used cards available online |
sensor, optical backscatter – measure NTU in each aquarium | Campbell Scientific Inc., Logan, UT, USA | OBS-3+ | Quantity: 5 Size: 0-1000 NTU |