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Articles

A Lagrangian particle-tracking approach to modelling larval drift in rivers

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Pages 17-35 | Received 08 May 2019, Accepted 20 Dec 2019, Published online: 12 May 2020
 

Abstract

The migration of larval fish from spawning to rearing habitat in rivers is not well understood. This paper describes a methodology to predict larval drift using a Lagrangian particle-tracking (LPT) model with passive and active behavioural components loosely coupled to a quasi-three-dimensional hydraulic model. In the absence of measured larval drift, a heuristic approach is presented for the larval drift of two species of interest, white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and burbot (Lota lota), in the Kootenai River, Idaho. Previous studies found that many fish species prefer certain vertical zones within the water column; sturgeon tend to be found near the bottom and burbot close to the water surface. Limiting the vertical movement of larvae is incorporated into the active component of the LPT model. The results illustrate a pattern of drift where secondary flow in meander bends and other zones of flow curvature redistributes particles toward the outside of the bend for surface drifters and toward the inside of the bend for bottom drifters. This pattern periodically reinforces the intersection of drifting larvae with channel margins in meander bends. In the absence of measured larval drift data, the model provides a tool for hypothesis testing and a guide to both field and laboratory experiments to further define the role of active behaviour in drifting larvae.

Acknowledgements

The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho granted permission and provided logistical support for the tracer experiment on the Kootenai River. This research used resources provided by the Core Science Analytics, Synthesis, & Libraries (CSASL) Advanced Research Computing (ARC) group at the U.S. Geological Survey. In particular Jeff Falgout, Brad Williams, Leon Foks, and Janice Gordon provided support and guidance in expanding our code to run on the U.S. Geological Survey’s high-performance computer. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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