2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference

March 13 - 15, 2022

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5/23/2019  |   11:45 AM - 12:00 PM   |  EMERGENT HYDRODYNAMICS, SKIMMING FLOW, AND THE OPTIMAL DENSITIES FOR MUSSEL COVERED BEDS IN LABILE RIVERS   |  251 DE

EMERGENT HYDRODYNAMICS, SKIMMING FLOW, AND THE OPTIMAL DENSITIES FOR MUSSEL COVERED BEDS IN LABILE RIVERS

Freshwater mussels are dominant ecosystem engineers in many streams, yet they are an imperiled fauna and little is known about the interaction between mussels and their hydrodynamic habitat. To explore these interactions, flume experiments were conducted across a range of densities of model mussels and flow rates where two-dimensional particle image velocimetry was employed to quantify the turbulent flow field. The results show that (1) mussels can markedly alter the distributions and magnitudes of time-averaged velocity and Reynolds stress, (2) higher densities of mussels accelerate flow velocity above the mussel canopy, decelerate velocity within the canopy, and shift the maximum Reynolds stress above the canopy, and (3) a hydrodynamic tipping point occurs at a mussel density of 25 mussels m-2, where wall-bounded rough flow is replaced by relatively smoother skimming flow. These results suggest that when mussel density reaches an optimal threshold in rivers, a fundamental shift in the hydraulic flow regime occurs that increases the stability and resiliency of the mussel-covered bed during higher flow stages. Such information is central to understanding the biophysical interactions between mussels and their environment and to advancing efforts to conserve these important organisms.

  • Hydrology
  • Conservation
  • Invertebrate

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Presenters/Authors

Brandon Sansom (), SUNY University at Buffalo, bsansom@buffalo.edu;


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Sean Bennett (), SUNY University at Buffalo, seanb@buffalo.edu;


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Joseph Atkinson (), SUNY University at Buffalo, atkinson@buffalo.edu;


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Caryn Vaughn (), University of Oklahoma, cvaughn@ou.edu;


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