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Quantifying mortality and injury susceptibility for two morphologically disparate fishes exposed to simulated turbine blade strike

Journal Article · · Hydrobiologia
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
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Passage of fishes through hydropower turbines and water pumping stations may cause mortal injury as the result of exposure to blade strike impact. Laboratory trials of simulated blade strike on two morphologically distinct fishes, American eel (Anguilla rostrata) and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) were undertaken to assess injury and mortality rates. We hypothesized that bluegill would have comparable rates of injury and mortality to other laterally compressed fishes while anguilliform American eel would be more resistant to injury. American eel had low observed mortality rates at the highest velocity tested (13.6 m/s), but many fish were observed with vertebral fractures which we categorized as functionally dead individuals. Bluegill were more susceptible to blade strike with high rates of mortality regardless of blade thickness, velocity, or impact conditions (location, angle, or fish orientation). These data have broadened our understanding of the range of responses among entrained fishes exposed to blade strike and represent species with low (American eel) and high (bluegill) susceptibility to injury and mortality. Furthermore, our blade strike data can help inform safer turbine designs or prioritization of pumps that minimize traumatic injury and mortality of fishes during non-volitional passage through hydropower turbines or water pumping stations.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1557516
Journal Information:
Hydrobiologia, Journal Name: Hydrobiologia Vol. 842; ISSN 0018-8158
Publisher:
SpringerCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Figures / Tables (10)

Fig. 1(p. 22)figure Fig. 1
Fig. 2(p. 22)figure Fig. 2
Fig. 3(p. 23)figure Fig. 3
Table 1 : Part 1(p. 24)table Table 1 : Part 1
Table 1 : Part 2(p. 25)table Table 1 : Part 2
Table 2 : Part 1(p. 26)table Table 2 : Part 1
Table 2 : Part 2(p. 27)table Table 2 : Part 2
Table 3 : Part 1(p. 28)table Table 3 : Part 1
Table 3 : Part 2(p. 29)table Table 3 : Part 2
Table 4(p. 30)table Table 4

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Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
American eel
Bluegill sunfish
Entrainment
Hydropower
Passage trauma
Water pumping stations