Understanding gas bubble trauma in an era of hydropower expansion: how do fish compensate at depth?

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 556-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi K. Pleizier ◽  
Charlotte Nelson ◽  
Steven J. Cooke ◽  
Colin J. Brauner
Keyword(s):  
Bubble Growth ◽  
Gas Bubble ◽  
Hydroelectric Dams ◽  
Dissolved Gas ◽  
Empirical Relationships ◽  
Lethal Effects ◽  
Exposed Fish ◽  
Total Dissolved Gas ◽  
Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
The Relationship

Hydrostatic pressure is known to protect fish from damage by total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation, but empirical relationships are lacking. In this study we demonstrate the relationship between depth, TDG, and gas bubble trauma (GBT). Hydroelectric dams generate TDG supersaturation that causes bubble growth in the tissues of aquatic animals, resulting in sublethal and lethal effects. We exposed fish to 100%, 115%, 120%, and 130% TDG at 16 and 63 cm of depth and recorded time to 50% loss of equilibrium and sublethal symptoms. Our linear model of the log-transformed time to 50% LOE (R2 = 0.94) was improved by including depth. Based on our model, a depth of 47 cm compensated for the effects of 4.1% (±1.3% SE) TDG supersaturation. Our experiment reveals that once the surface threshold for GBT from TDG supersaturation is known, depth protects rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from GBT by 9.7% TDG supersaturation per metre depth. Our results can be used to estimate the impacts of TDG on fish downstream of dams and to develop improved guidelines for TDG.

scholarly journals Gas depletion through single gas bubble diffusive growth and its effect on subsequent bubbles

2017 ◽  
Vol 831 ◽  
pp. 474-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Álvaro Moreno Soto ◽  
Andrea Prosperetti ◽  
Detlef Lohse ◽  
Devaraj van der Meer
Keyword(s):  
Bubble Growth ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Liquid Solution ◽  
Nucleation Site ◽  
Simplified Model ◽  
Gas Bubble ◽  
Dissolved Gas ◽  
Bubble Detachment ◽  
Diffusive Growth ◽  
Pure Diffusion

When a gas bubble grows by diffusion in a gas–liquid solution, it affects the distribution of gas in its surroundings. If the density of the solution is sensitive to the local amount of dissolved gas, there is the potential for the onset of natural convection, which will affect the bubble growth rate. The experimental study of the successive quasi-static growth of many bubbles from the same nucleation site described in this paper illustrates some consequences of this effect. The enhanced growth due to convection causes a local depletion of dissolved gas in the neighbourhood of each bubble beyond that due to pure diffusion. The quantitative data of sequential bubble growth provided in the paper show that the radius-versus-time curves of subsequent bubbles differ from each other due to this phenomenon. A simplified model accounting for the local depletion is able to collapse the experimental curves and to predict the progressively increasing bubble detachment times.

The Effects of Total Dissolved Gas on Chum Salmon Fry Survival, Growth, Gas Bubble Disease, and Seawater Tolerance

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 200-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Geist ◽  
Timothy J. Linley ◽  
Valerie Cullinan ◽  
Zhiqun Deng
Keyword(s):  
Chum Salmon ◽  
Gas Bubble ◽  
Dissolved Gas ◽  
Total Dissolved Gas ◽  
Salmon Fry ◽  
Seawater Tolerance ◽  
Gas Bubble Disease

Advances in Fisheries Bioengineering

2008 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Fish Passage ◽  
Anadromous Fish ◽  
Hydroelectric Dams ◽  
Dissolved Gas ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Total Dissolved Gas ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Fish Survival

<em>Abstract.</em>—Historically, spillways and sluiceways at hydroelectric dams were constructed as conduits for transporting excess river flow or debris with little focus on their potential for safe fish passage routes. In recent times, however, these conveyances are increasingly viewed as viable fish passage routes and are used to increase potential survival for the declining salmonid populations, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. However, spill is uneconomical and, with some spillway configurations, may cause potentially lethal levels of total dissolved gas (TDG) saturation in the river. Recent estimates (direct effects) of juvenile anadromous fish survival and condition after passing nonturbine exit routes at hydro dams have shown much variation (83–100% survival) depending upon site-specific hydraulic characteristics, trajectory of entrained fish, and obstructions in the flow path. Efforts are underway to modify spillways and bypasses at several hydroelectric dams to decrease TDG and eliminate and/or minimize fish injury.

scholarly journals Experimental Investigations on the Wall-attached Bubble Growth Process in Water With Supersaturated Total Dissolved Gas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Lin ◽  
Ran Li ◽  
Jingjie Feng ◽  
Qin Zou ◽  
Xiaolong Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Bubble Growth ◽  
Prediction Method ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Dissolved Gas ◽  
Release Process ◽  
Environmental Pressure ◽  
Total Dissolved Gas ◽  
Vacuum Degree

Abstract Due to dam discharge, waterfalls, sudden increases in water temperature and oxygen production by photosynthesis, the total dissolved gas (TDG) in water is often supersaturated, which may have serious effects on aquatic ecology. When the atmospheric pressure is lower than the TDG pressure in water, the supersaturated dissolved gas in water will slowly release into air. Wall-attached bubbles were formed during the TDG release process. The generation and departure of wall-attached bubbles influence the release process of TDG in water. To simulate the growth period of the wall-attached bubbles under different pressures, a decompression experimental device was designed to record the supersaturated TDG release process. Based on experimental data and mathematical calculations, the quantitative relationship between the bubble growth rate and environmental pressure was obtained. The supersaturated TDG dissipation rate increases monotonically with increasing relative vacuum degree. Based on the wall-attached bubble growth rate calculation method applied in this paper, a formula of the supersaturated TDG adsorption flux based on wall-attached bubbles was proposed, and a prediction method of the TDG release coefficient was established. The simulation results show that with increasing relative vacuum degree, the TDG coefficient increases correspondingly, and the adsorption mechanism of vegetation surface area can be obviously promoted under lower environmental pressure. This study provides an important theoretical basis for the accurate calculation of the TDG release process and provides a scientific basis for the accurate prediction of the spatial and temporal distribution of supersaturated TDG under different environmental conditions.

scholarly journals Influence of Channel Regulating Structures on the Transportation and Dissipation of Supersaturated Total Dissolved Gas

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Yun Qing ◽  
Qian Ma ◽  
Ran Li ◽  
Xia Shen ◽  
XuJin Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Impact Evaluation ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Gas Bubble ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Slow Process ◽  
Dissolved Gas ◽  
Inland Waterways ◽  
Total Dissolved Gas ◽  
Dissipation Model ◽  
Gas Bubble Disease

Bubble dissolution during the flood discharge creates high total dissolved gas (TDG) concentration zones downstream of the dams. The dissipation of supersaturated TDG is a very slow process. Thus, the elevated TDG may remain through the water body for hundreds of kilometers downstream and lead to gas bubble disease (GBD) and even mortality in fish. To improve the navigation conditions of waterways, dikes (i.e., a solid structure) of varied sizes and shapes are commonly constructed. However, this would affect the dissipation and transportation of the supersaturated TDG. It would significantly change the turbulence intensity and hydropressure of the flow, which dominates the dissipation of TDG. Therefore, TDG distribution in the waterway differs from that in the natural river. In this study, a numerical simulation of the TDG at the Yangtze River’s upper reaches (one of the inland waterways in China) was conducted with the establishment of a two-dimensional TDG dissipation model. The effect of the dikes’ size and shape was analyzed to assess the influence of the regulation structures on the dissipation and transportation of the supersaturated TDG. Meanwhile, simulation in the study area with the natural topography was also set as blank control. Based on that, impact evaluation of TDG supersaturation on fish under different simulation scenarios was made. This study can provide a scientific basis for reducing the adverse effect of supersaturated TDG in fish and the construction of ecological waterway therefore.

scholarly journals The effect of total dissolved gas supersaturation on gas bubble trauma in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), juvenile kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) and two age classes of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Kovac ◽  
Naomi K. Pleizier ◽  
Colin J Brauner
Keyword(s):  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
Oncorhynchus Nerka ◽  
White Sturgeon ◽  
Acipenser Transmontanus ◽  
Gas Bubble ◽  
Dissolved Gas ◽  
Total Dissolved Gas ◽  
Juvenile Rainbow Trout ◽  
Total Dissolved Gas Supersaturation

Hydroelectric dams are an important source of electricity globally, but they can also cause total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation in rivers. Total dissolved gas supersaturation can harm fish through a condition called gas bubble trauma (GBT). Gas bubble trauma has been studied primarily in salmonids, such as rainbow trout and steelhead salmon (Oncorhynchus mykiss), but seldomly in non-salmonids like white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus). We assessed the vulnerability of juvenile rainbow trout (<1 year old), juvenile kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) (<1 year old), and two ages of white sturgeon (<1 year old and 3+ year old) to GBT. Bubble formation and the time to 50% loss of equilibrium (LOE) was quantified during exposure to nominal levels of 100, 115, 120 and 130% TDG. We predicted that all three species would show similar times to 50% LOE at a given TDG level. However, time to LOE was longer, the proportion of fish with external symptoms of GBT was lower and the proportion of fish with bubbles in the gills was higher or lower (dependant on age) in white sturgeon relative to rainbow trout and kokanee at a given TDG. The physiological basis for the difference is not known. However, it is important to consider species specific differences in TDG sensitivity in the conservation of vulnerable species

MONITORING OF METHANE CONCENTRATIONS IN A GAS-CHARGED GROUNDWATER AQUIFER USING WATER SAMPLES AND DOWNHOLE TOTAL DISSOLVED GAS PRESSURE (TDGP) SENSORS

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Rivard ◽  
◽  
Jim Roy ◽  
Geneviève Bordeleau ◽  
Rene Lefebvre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Samples ◽  
Gas Pressure ◽  
Dissolved Gas ◽  
Total Dissolved Gas ◽  
Groundwater Aquifer ◽  
Methane Concentrations

scholarly journals Energy dissipation efficiency as a new variable in the empirical correlation of total dissolved gas

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingying Lu ◽  
Xiaolong Cheng ◽  
Zhenhua Wang ◽  
Ran Li ◽  
Jingjie Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Dissipation ◽  
Standard Error ◽  
Air Entrainment ◽  
Empirical Equations ◽  
Generation Process ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Dissolved Gas ◽  
Total Dissolved Gas ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Hydropower Stations

AbstractTotal dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation, which occurs during dam spilling, may result in fish bubble disease and mortality. Many studies have been conducted to identify the factors pertaining to TDG generation, such as the spilling discharge and tailwater depth. Additionally, the energy dissipation efficiency should be considered due to its effect on the air entrainment, which influences the TDG generation process. According to the TDG field observations of 49 cases at Dagangshan and Xiluodu hydropower stations, the TDG was positively related to the energy dissipation efficiency, tailwater depth and discharge per unit width. A correlation between the generated TDG level and these factors was established. The empirical equations proposed by the USACE were calibrated, and the TDG level estimation performance was compared with the established correlation for 25 spillage cases at seven other dams. Among the considered cases, the standard error of the TDG estimation considering the energy dissipation efficiency was 5.7%, and those for the correlations obtained using the USACE equations were 13.0% and 10.0%. The findings indicated that the energy dissipation efficiency considerably influenced the TDG level, and its consideration helped enhance the precision of the TDG estimation. Finally, the generality of this approach and future work were discussed.

An examination of the PCB: lipid relationship among individual fish

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 1031-1038
Author(s):  
C A Stow ◽  
L J Jackson ◽  
J F Amrhein
Keyword(s):  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha ◽  
Lake Trout ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Salvelinus Namaycush ◽  
Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
Strong Linear Correlation ◽  
Brown Trout Salmo Trutta ◽  
The Relationship

We examined data from 1984 to 1994 for five species of Lake Michigan salmonids to explore the relationship between total PCB concentration and percent lipid. When we compared mean species lipid and PCB values, we found a strong linear correlation. When we compared values among individuals, we found modest positive PCB:lipid associations in brown trout (Salmo trutta), chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) collected during spawning, but positive associations were not apparent among nonspawning individuals. Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) exhibited no discernible PCB:lipid relationship. Our results are not incompatible with previous observations that contaminants are differentially partitioned into lipids within a fish, but these results do suggest that lipids are not a major factor influencing contaminant uptake.

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