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.
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Method Article
A Flow-through Exposure System for Evaluating Suspended Sediments Effects on Aquatic Life
In This Article
Summary
Abstract
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.
Introduction
Dredging operations use mechanical methods to remove bottom sediments from harbors and navigation channels. During removal, some portion of the disturbed sediment is suspended into the water column, potentially making this a source of physical stress to aquatic species. In addition to being suspended, the sediment may be transported away from the dredge by ambient conditions before settling out of the water column. The combination of these two mechanisms means that an aquatic organism occurring near an operating dredge may be exposed to suspended sediments and suffer adverse effects. To address such concerns, environmental windows (seasonal dredging restrictions) are ....
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Protocol
All FLEES experiments with vertebrates were performed under the appropriate Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Environmental Laboratory Institutional Animal Care and Use Protocols.
1. FLEES Modules, Water Bath, and Aquaria
- Obtain wood posts, studs and plywood for building the module. Construct the modules (in number and size) similar to a basic workbench to meet research objectives.
- Cut the plywood (0.127 cm) for the top and shelf. Cut the posts (10.16 x 10.16 cm) for the legs. For the top, cut the studs (5.08 x 10.16), build a frame and fasten the plywood to the frame. Cut a notch at the top of each leg....
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Results
A series of operational runs is performed before beginning an experiment to ensure that the FLEES is delivering the appropriate concentrations of sediments to each aquarium (Sections 5.5 and 6.2). Figure 6 illustrates how NTU concentrations are maintained in experimental aquaria to achieve target suspended sediment concentrations. In this example, FLEES evaluated whether suspended sediment could be maintained over a three-day period with the proposed test sediment, a dura.......
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Discussion
The FLEES technology improves on existing methods4,9 by maintaining and controlling suspended sediments over a wide range of exposure times and suspended sediment concentrations using an automated, computer controlled system. The technology is flexible such that it can be used to evaluate the effects of suspended sediments to multiple aquatic species and life stages of varying sizes from eggs to adults depending on the species. In the future, the technology is capable of assessing suspended sediment effects to.......
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Disclosures
Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the U.S. Army. Citations of commercial organizations or trade names in this report do not constitute an official Department of the Army endorsement or approval of the products or services of these organizations. Authors Burton C. Suedel and Justin L. Wilkens, both of the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, declare that they have no competing financial interests.
Acknowledgements
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.
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Materials
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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: 30 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 |
| 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: 0-1,000 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 |
| 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 |
| 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: 0-1,000 NTU |
References
- National Research Council (NRC). A process for setting, managing, and monitoring environmental windows for dredging projects. Marine Board, Transportation Research Board, Special Report 262. , National Academy Press. Washington, DC. (2001).
- Suedel, B. C., Kim, J., Clarke, D. G., Linkov, I. A risk-informed....
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