Development of preserved, fluorescent-dyed invasive carp eggs for particle tracking velocimetry in transport and dispersal control experiments

Invasive carp species threaten freshwater ecosystems in North America, necessitating innovative control strategies targeting their early life stages. However, the complexities of using live eggs in experiments (e.g., rearing and spawning fish, short timeframe for experimentation, and euthanizing prior to disposal) makes studying them difficult. This study develops and uses fluorescent-dyed, preserved grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) eggs as surrogates for live eggs in laboratory experiments. The preserved eggs are easy to obtain and closely resemble the physical characteristics (i.e., diameter, settling velocity, density, and microstructures) of live eggs, while being highly visible under blacklight, enabling detailed analysis of particle trajectories and velocities using particle tracking velocimetry (PTV). These techniques allow for the quantification of the transport and dispersal of the fluorescent-dyed eggs in a laboratory flume, with high temporal and spatial resolution of the particle movement. The methodologies presented perform well even in challenging visibility conditions, such as at high mean channel velocities or with bubble screens designed to entrain eggs and control their movement for capture. Critical limitations are discussed, and recommendations for future work are presented to improve the efficacy of the methods. Results demonstrate the utility of using fluorescent-dyed, preserved eggs with PTV in quantifying egg transport mechanisms for invasive carp management. This approach offers a scalable method for advancing fish egg transport studies and improving strategies to mitigate the ecological impact of invasive carp.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Doyle, Henry

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tinoco, Rafael O

• Invasive Carp
• Grass Carp
• Fish Eggs
• Particle Tracking Velocimetry

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Henry Doyle

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127299

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F127299