Injury and mortality of two Mekong River species exposed to turbulent shear forces
A. H. Colotelo A F , R. P. Mueller A , R. A. Harnish A , J. J. Martinez A , T. Phommavong B , K. Phommachanh C , G. Thorncraft B , L. J. Baumgartner D , J. M. Hubbard
A , B. M. Rhode A and Z. D. Deng A E F
A Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Earth Systems Sciences Division, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
B Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, National University of Laos, PO Box 7322, Dongdok, Vientiane, Laos.
C Living Aquatic Resources Research Center, PO Box 9108, Vientiane, Laos.
D Institute of Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia.
E Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 635 Prices Fork Road, MC 0238, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
F Corresponding authors. Email: alisonha.colotelo@pnnl.gov; zhiqun.deng@pnnl.gov
Marine and Freshwater Research 69(12) 1945-1953 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF18126
Submitted: 24 March 2018 Accepted: 19 July 2018 Published: 4 October 2018
Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2018 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Global hydropower development is one solution proposed to address the increase in energy needs. However, hydropower-related impacts on riverine ecological systems are not well understood. The Mekong River Basin (MRB) is one of the world’s largest waterways and is presently experiencing significant hydropower expansion. It is also one of the most biodiverse rivers; serving as home to many species that are blocked or hindered by the development of dams. One source of injury and mortality for downstream moving fishes is passage through the turbine environment where fishes may be exposed to several physical stressors (e.g. shear forces, rapid decompression, blade strike and turbulence). The current study sought to understand the susceptibility of blue gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus) and iridescent shark (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) to shear forces. Fishes were exposed to an underwater jet with velocities up to 21.3 m s–1 (equating to strain rates of up to 1185 s–1) and were assessed for behavioural effects, injuries and mortality. Overall, it was determined that both species were susceptible to the shear forces applied in this study and the effects were more pronounced at higher strain rates. Gouramis were more susceptible than sharks. To minimise impacts on these species, shear forces within turbines should not exceed critical limits.
Additional keywords : blue gourami, hydropower, iridescent shark, strain rate.
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