The effect of turbulence on survival, dispersal, and swimming behavior of grass carp eggs and larvae

There is an urgent need to monitor and control the spread of invasive grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) in North America. Grass carp are reproducing in tributaries to Lake Erie and control efforts targeting reproduction are greatly needed. Current strategies for their control and removal are costly and report mixed degrees of efficacy. However, an alternative way to monitor and control their spread consists of increasing capture and mortality rates during early life stages (i.e. eggs and larvae stages) when they are more susceptible to damage via enhanced flow turbulence levels and altered flow conditions. In order for these alternative strategies to be effective, is necessary to study the physics underlying the movement of eggs and larvae in streamflow, and to quantify the turbulence thresholds that trigger those behavioral and physiological effects. This study examines how early-life-stage grass carp interact with turbulent flows, how turbulence affects their survival, and whether turbulence-based control methods could work. An extensive series of laboratory experiments were conducted with live grass carp eggs and larvae in a grid-stirred turbulence tank and in a race-track flume to: a) explore the effect of turbulence intensity on egg mortality, and b) to document the behavioral response of grass carp larvae to spatially-variable, turbulent flows. A turbulence intensity threshold was identified, above which egg mortality substantially increased due to short- (10 seconds) and long-term (5 minutes) exposure at different turbulence levels. Larvae actively responded to changes in turbulence intensity and shear stresses produced by obstructions in the flow (e.g. rocks, piers, and submerged vegetation), avoiding areas of high shear and seeking low-turbulence, low-vorticity regions. These swimming capabilities were quantified by estimating burst swimming speeds and were correlated with the spatial distributions of turbulent kinetic energy, vorticity, and Reynolds stresses for future predictions of larvae dispersion on natural streams. This study produced a unique and extensive data set that may allow for the development of turbulence-based control methods for grass carp. Such control methods could include increasing egg mortality by increasing turbulence intensity through temporary and permanent in-stream structures or using natural or modified hydrodynamics to attract, guide, and aggregate larvae at predefined control points for collection or extermination.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2020

Author dc:creator

• Prada Sepulveda, Andres Felipe

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tinoco, Rafael O
• Garcia, Marcelo H
• Parker, Gary
• Jackson, Patrick R
• Cienciala, Piotr

• Grass carp
• eggs and larvae
• flow transport
• laboratory experiments
• turbulence thresholds
• egg mortality
• larvae swimming capabilities.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Andres Prada Sepulveda

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/107942

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/107942